Masked Hunter Bugs - Painful Biting Insects

Masked hunters, otherwise known as Reduvius personatus, are types of assassin bugs found throughout the central and eastern portion of the United States. They are also referred to as "bed bug hunters" for their habit of feeding on the same.

Masked hunters are one of the few true bugs that have a very painful bite, though they are not really wanting to deliver it. Usually, simply brushing away the masked hunter from your skin will send it on it's way, and a bite is not likely. If you are trying to handle the masked hunter, or otherwise trap it against your skin via clothing for example, then you can expect a very painful surprise.

The bite of a masked hunter feels very similar to a severe bee sting, and it will produce swelling at the site of the bite. This swelling will often linger for a week or better, and can be serious for those individuals with a weak constitution.

Juvenile masked hunters are often a tan to brown color. When fully grown, the masked hunter will often be black to dark brown. They are winged and are often about 3/4th of an inch in length. They are six legged, with an almost glossy appearance. The youth also have a penchant for covering themselves in dust to hide themselves. This leads to some very odd looking masked hunters when they are young.

During the daytime hours, the masked hunter will hide in attics, crawlspaces, grooves in the walls, and any other dry space. At night, the masked hunter will come out to feed on any number of different insects. They have a special taste for bed bugs. If you have a number of masked hunters in your home, their is a good chance that you have bed bugs.

To eliminate masked hunters, it is best to simply eliminate their food source. If you do this, they will relocate on their own. Generally speaking, masked hunters will not show up in large numbers unless their are a number of food sources. Eliminate the food, and the masked hunter will look for better hunting grounds. Masked hunters are not a good source of pest control in spite of the legends. Masked hunters will bite and are quite a pest in their own right.