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spidey Insect Quiz
July, 2004

One summer day, you notice a fair-sized dark colored insect crawling around on the floor in your living room. You have never seen it before. It doesn't seem to be causing any damage but you are not sure where it came from.

QUESTIONS

1. What is this insect?

This insect is a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus). Adults are 3/4 inch long, black or brown, and have wings that cover that backs. Their mouthparts form a short, stout beak. Masked hunters are predaceous, feeding on small insects. Their favorite prey is bed bugs.

2. Is this insect damaging to property or dangerous to people?

They are harmless to property and are generally harmless to people. Masked hunters are rarely aggressive towards people but they can bite humans as a defensive reaction if they are mishandled. Fortunately any discomfort from such a bite is short-lived. Masked hunters do not transmit any disease to people.

3. What is it doing in my living room?

Masked hunters feed on insects outdoors but it is also common to find them indoors. Fortunately we don't usually see more than a few masked hunters at a time and they should be considered a temporary nuisance. It most likely was chance it ended up in your living room. However, if persistent numbers are found, they means they have a steady food source.

4. What is the best control for them?

If you find just a few masked hunters, physically remove them by vacuuming, sweeping, or something similar (be careful not to directly handle them to minimize the chance for bites). The chances are you won't see any more.

Infrequently, large, persistent numbers may be found in homes. This would suggest that a food source is available to sustain them. Finding and eliminating this food source will also eliminate the masked hunters. Since bed bugs are their preferred prey, look for a possible bed bug infestation in mattresses, bed covers, box springs, furniture upholstery, behind peeling wallpaper, behind pictures, in hollow bedframes, and similar places.



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