Masked Hunter Nymph (Camouflaged state)
Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Size: Nymphs vary based on instar stage but generally range from 4 to 12 mm; adults reach 17-22 mm.
Natural Habitat
Often found indoors in dusty corners, attics, and basements where there are other insects; also found outdoors in hollow trees and overhangs.
Diet & Feeding
They are generalist predators that feed on bed bugs, earwigs, silverfish, and other small household arthropods.
Behavior Patterns
The nymphs secrete a sticky substance on their bodies and actively cover themselves with dust, lint, sand, and debris from their environment as a form of camouflage. This makes them look like walking balls of dust.
Risks & Benefits
Benefit: They control pest populations like bed bugs and termites inside homes. Risk: While not aggressive, they can inflict a very painful bite if handled or threatened.
Identified on: 3/1/2026