Why Flybug Larva Coat Themselves With Sand

Flybugs (Reduvius personatus), also known as masked hunters, are a type of assassin bug. These insects are native to Europe but have also been introduced to North America. Flybugs are active at night and feed on other small invertebrates such as silverfish. When in the larval stage, these insects cover themselves with sand, dust, and dirt in an effort to camouflage themselves. Adult flybugs do not coat themselves with debris, they are dark brown and have long wings. You can view an image of a larval flybug, coated in sand, here. An image of the adult flybug can be viewed here.