Masked Hunter (Nymph stages)

Natural Habitat

Found indoors near lint, dust, or bedbug infestations; also found in gardens, barns, and woodlots.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; feeds on other small arthropods including bedbugs, flies, carpet beetles, and termites.

Behavior Patterns

Nymphs exhibit camouflaging behavior by coating their bodies with sticky secretions that trap dust and debris. They are nocturnal hunters that move slowly to stalk prey.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem as a natural pest control agent especially against bedbugs; however, they can deliver a very painful bite to humans if handled or provoked, though they do not transmit diseases.

Identified on: 5/21/2026