The Dust Bunny That Bites: The Masked Hunter
Found a piece of lint crawling across the floor? It's a Masked Hunter nymph. Learn why this 'dust bug' bites and what it says about your home.
You are cleaning behind a bookshelf. You see a large clump of lint or a dust bunny moving on its own.
Curious, you reach out to pick it up.
Pain. Intense, stinging pain that lasts for hours.
You didn't touch a dust bunny. You touched a Masked Hunter nymph.
The Ultimate Camouflage
This is one of the strangest bugs you will ever find in a home. The Masked Hunter is a type of Assassin Bug. As a baby (nymph), its body produces a sticky substance. It deliberately covers itself in the dust, lint, and sand from your floor.
It creates a perfect ghillie suit. It looks exactly like a piece of trash so it can ambush its prey.
Why You Should (Mostly) Like Them
The bite hurts—it feels like a bee sting—but it is not venomous or dangerous.
The presence of a Masked Hunter is actually a warning sign. They are predators. They only hang out in homes that have plenty of food.
What do they eat? Bed bugs, earwigs, and silverfish.
If you are finding these "dust monsters" frequently, you likely have a much more serious infestation of bed bugs or silverfish hidden in your walls. The hunter is just following the herd.
Don't Squish With Bare Hands
If you see one, do not grab it. Use a vacuum or a glass and a piece of paper. If you crush it against your skin, its defensive reflex is to stab you with its beak (proboscis).