Masked Hunter (Nymph)
Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus
Order & Family: Hemiptera, Reduviidae
Size: 15 to 22 mm as adults; nymphs are smaller and covered in debris.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, barns, and wooded areas where prey is abundant.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds on synanthropic insects like bed bugs, lacewings, earwigs, and flies.
Behavior Patterns
Nymphs secrete a sticky substance to camouflage themselves with dust, lint, and sand (masking). They are nocturnal predators.
Risks & Benefits
Beneficial as they hunt household pests like bed bugs, but can deliver a painful bite to humans if handled or provoked.
Identified on: 12/28/2025