Bug Identifier
Masked Hunter
Community identification

Masked Hunter

Reduvius personatus

Order & Family
Order: Hemiptera, Family: Reduviidae
Size
17 to 22 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.