Masked Hunter (Nymph stage)
Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Size: Nymphs vary by age but generally range from 5 to 13 mm (0.2 to 0.5 inches); adults reach 17-22 mm.
Natural Habitat
Found in homes, attics, basements, and dusty corners throughout North America and Europe; they prefer dry environments where other insects are present.
Diet & Feeding
They are predators that feed on other arthropods, including bed bugs, earwigs, sowbugs, and silverfish.
Behavior Patterns
The most notable behavior of the nymph is camouflaging itself with dust, lint, sand, and other debris to hide from both prey and predators (this is why they look like a walking dust bunny). They are ambush predators.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: They act as natural pest control by eating household pests like bed bugs. Risks: While generally not aggressive toward humans, they can inflict a very painful bite if handled or roughly disturbed.
Identified on: 3/4/2026