| Reduvius personatus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Family: | Reduviidae |
| Genus: | Reduvius |
| Species: | R. personatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Reduvius personatus | |
Reduvius personatus or the masked hunter is an insect belonging to the assassin bug (Reduviidae) family. The name is because its nymphs camouflage themselves with dust. The masked hunter is a predator of small arthropods, including woodlice, lacewings, earwigs, bed bugs and termites.[1] Masked hunters do not feed on human blood, but can sting humans in self-defense when mishandled.[2] The sting can be painful, but masked hunters do not carry Chagas disease[3] unlike the kissing bug for which they are sometimes mistaken.
- ^ "Iowa State University BugGuide". Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ "Getting Personal with Personatus". Retrieved 2016-07-05.
- ^ "University of Minnesota Yard and Garden Briefs - Masked hunters". Retrieved 2016-07-05.