Bug Identifier
Masked Hunter Nymph
Community identification

Masked Hunter Nymph

Reduvius personatus

Order & Family
Hemiptera: Reduviidae
Size
Nymphs reach about 15-20 mm at maturity.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments such as homes, barns, and sheds, often found in dusty or cluttered areas.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous predator; feeds on small arthropods including bed bugs, carpet beetles, termites, and earwigs.

Behavior Patterns

Nymphs secrete a sticky substance to cover their bodies with dust, lint, and debris as camouflage. They are nocturnal and move with a characteristic 'stop-and-start' motion.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem by preying on household pests. While not aggressive or disease-carrying, they can deliver a painful, bee-sting-like bite to humans if handled or provoked.