Masked Hunter

Natural Habitat

Typically found indoors in dry, dusty areas like basements, attics, and corners where lint and debris accumulate.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly carnivorous; feeds on other arthropods including silverfish, carpet beetles, bed bugs, and flies.

Behavior Patterns

Nymphs practice camouflaging by secreting a sticky substance and covering themselves with dust and lint. They are nocturnal hunters that use a piercing-sucking proboscis to inject enzymes into prey.

Risks & Benefits

Beneficial as a natural pest control agent for household insects. While not aggressive or disease-carrying, they can deliver a very painful defensive bite if handled or provoked, often described as similar to a hornet sting.

Identified on: 6/14/2026