A predator with a painful sting could be lurking in your home, hiding in plain sight thanks to its impressive self-camouflaging abilities.

The insect known as the masked hunter (Reduvius personatus) certainly lives up to its name, a predator belonging to the Assassin bug (Reduviidae) family, with juveniles capable of using their surroundings to construct sets of camouflage.

While the species is native to Europe, it was accidentally introduced to North America, where it now thrives across most of Canada, the Eastern and Central U.S., as well as portions of the Northwest.

But Ontario is proving a major hotspot for sightings and run-ins with these insects, which have been known to make their homes in human dwellings.

Adult Masked Hunter? Ontario, Canada
byu/57mmShin-Maru inwhatsthisbug

Masked hunter nymphs are perhaps more fearsome than adults, thanks to their ability to camouflage themselves. They use their hind legs and a specialized appendage called a tarsal fan to build a two-layer set of camouflage out of dirt, sand, and whatever detritus they can find to effectively conceal themselves from predators as well as prey.

Found in Ontario Canada. I don't think I've ever seen this type before!
byu/ThatguyfromMario inwhatsthisbug

But this defensive tactic doesn't mean these little guys don't pack a punch.

Both nymphs and adults feed using a terrifying method of using piercing, sucking mouthparts to stab their prey, typically small arthropods like bed bugs and termites, then drink out their insides.

Masked hunter nymphs are more likely to be accidentally handled by humans than the larger, un-camouflaged adults.

Look on any insect identification website or Reddit thread, and you'll quickly learn that Ontario has become one of the hottest spots on the continent for run-ins with masked hunters. More worryingly, there have been increased reports of people being bitten by these creepy crawlies in recent years.

(Ontario, Canada) anyone have an idea of what this is? pretty sure this thing bit me last week 😐
byu/dwightusandronicus inbugidentification

Even as juvenile nymphs, these little buggers can pack a real punch with repeated stings known to cause severe pain.

This thing bit (stung?) my kid twice before we discovered it in her clothes. Hurt a lot. Should we be worried? Southern Ontario.
byu/Mischief430sub4 ininsects

When compared to other stings in the insect kingdom, the masked hunter's defensive strike has been described as similar to that of a bee sting, with swelling that can last up to a week.

One key difference here is that you probably already know what a bee is and that the effects are negligible.

However, chances are that at least a few of you have never heard of or seen a masked hunter, and the fear associated with being stung by an unidentified insect could add a psychological layer to the already painful sting.