Masked Hunter Nymph (Camouflaged state)

Natural Habitat

Often found indoors in dusty corners, attics, and basements; outdoors in woody areas or crevices.

Diet & Feeding

Predatory; feeds on other household arthropods like bed bugs, booklice, termites, and earwigs.

Behavior Patterns

The nymph exhibits a unique behavior of covering itself with dust, lint, sand, and debris to camouflage itself from predators and ambush prey. This creates a 'walking dust bunny' appearance.

Risks & Benefits

Generally beneficial as they eat household pests. However, they can inflict a painful bite if handled or threatened, similar in feeling to a bee sting, though the bite is not medically dangerous.

Identified on: 2/24/2026