Reduvius personatus

Description

Measuring 16 to 18 mm this is a large and predominantly black bug, although the bases of the antennae and tibiae are paler.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

This species is associated with humans (synanthropic) and breeds in houses, feeding on a range of associated insects such as bedbugs, silverfish, booklice and flies. The bug does not suck blood or spread disease; it may however inflict a painful bite if handled roughly. It has also been attracted to light.

When to see it

Adult: May to September.

Life History

The larvae camouflage themselves using dust and the bug is sometimes known as the 'Masked Hunter' for this reason.

UK Status

Infrequent in Britain where it has been recorded mainly from southern and central England.

VC55 Status

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland - the Buckminster specimen of 24th June 2015 is only the second record of this species in VC55, the first coming from Market Harborough in 1949.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Bugs
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Reduviidae
Records on NatureSpot:
8
First record:
24/06/2015 (Russell, Adrian)
Last record:
16/06/2022 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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