Bedbug numbers soared when humans left caves and moved to cities, scientists find
The research, published in science journal Biology Letters, looked at the genetics of bedbugs and found that they split into two lineages thousands of years ago – one that stayed on bats, and one that targeted humans.
By the Ice Age both populations were in general decline, with the bat-associated lineage never bouncing back, but the urban bedbugs recovered and began to thrive as human settlements expanded into cities.
As humans built early cities, such as Mesopotamia, around 12,000 years ago and their populations started to boom, so too did the populations of the tiny parasitic insects feasting on human skin – making the species one of the first human pests.
'That makes sense because modern humans moved out of caves about 60,000 years ago,' said Warren Booth, the Joseph R. and Mary W. Wilson Urban Entomology associate professor.
"There were bedbugs living in the caves with these humans, and when they moved out they took a subset of the population with them so there's less genetic diversity in that human-associated lineage."
"What will be interesting is to look at what's happening in the last 100 to 120 years," Prof Booth told science website Phys.org.
"Bed bugs were pretty common in the old world, but once DDT [dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane] was introduced for pest control, populations crashed. They were thought to have been essentially eradicated, but within five years they started reappearing and were resisting the pesticide."
Bedbug infestations saw a dramatic 35 per cent jump between 2022 and 2024, while cockroach removal visits rose by 13 per cent over the same period.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
20 hours ago
- Metro
TV fans can't get over one hilarious detail in 'masterpiece' sci-fi series
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A new sci-fi horror show is turning heads online after airing just two episodes. Alien: Earth just dropped internationally on Disney Plus and fans are already going into a frenzy. Set in the iconic Alien universe, the show has been branded a 'masterpiece' by fans who say it's one of the best things they've ever watched. Yet there's one detail that keeps distracting viewers. Specifically, people find it funny that the Ice Age films play such a significant role in the series. Unsurprisingly, fans have already taken to social media to poke fun at Sid the Sloth's repeated cameos. @GodzillaMendoza wrote on X: 'There's a scene in Alien Earth where Sid the Sloth from Ice Age slowly fades onto the screen as a transparent overlay during a really emotional scene, and I gotta say that's… that's just wonderful.' @Connor2202_ was similarly amused, posting 'Maybe the boldest choice in Alien Earth is the idea that people will still be watching Ice Age in 100 years time.' It was @lowcarbcomedy who did the maths and worked out that 'Alien Earth is set in 2120, so Ice Age would be 118 years old. The equivalent of someone today sitting down to watch George Méliès Ben Hur from 1907.' Perhaps @davidehrlich put it best, however, when he wrote: 'The Ice Age movies are significantly more important to the story of Alien: Earth than I would have imagined.' Set in 2120, two years before Ridley Scott's original 1979 film, Alien: Earth explores a terrifying future ruled by mega-corporations. It's a world where science, greed, and survival all collide. At the heart of the story is Wendy, a girl with a terminal illness whose mind is transferred into a synthetic adult body. She leads a group of hybrid synthetics, known as the Lost Boys, after a research vessel called Maginot crashes and unleashes a terrifying new alien threat on Earth. It's dark, dystopian, and completely gripping – and the internet is loving it. One fan, @supermang, wrote on X: 'I hope Alien: Earth leads to more horror franchises getting shows! So excited for the rest of this season!' Another, @sandeep_sanmayo, added: 'The scale, the atmosphere, the vfx omg they've created true masterpiece i would say.' And those kinds of reactions are everywhere right now. The Rotten Tomatoes score has already climbed to an impressive 93%, making it the third-highest rated entry in the entire Alien franchise. Only the original film and James Cameron's Aliens are rated higher. Critics have praised the show for its storytelling, its depth, and its ability to scare and provoke thought at the same time. Empire gave it a full five stars, calling it 'a rare prequel that enriches the original story rather than rehashing it.' Tom's Guide called it 'pure sci-fi goodness' and said it proves the Alien universe is far from dead. GamesRadar Plus said it's 'ferociously entertaining' and one of the most violent – and best – Alien stories since the 1986 classic. It's not just about the gore, though. Reviewers are highlighting the emotional weight of the show, especially in the relationship between Wendy and her brother Joe, a fellow synthetic. Metro's Deputy TV editor Tom Percival shares his thoughts on this out-of-this-world TV show after watching six episodes… Call me a contrarian because I'm about to drop a take hotter than a Xenomorph's acidic blood, but I don't really get what other critics see in Alien: Earth. It's by no means a bad show, but I found most of the characters unlikable, the plot involving the synths pretty dull, and the world incredibly dreary. That said, the production design is good, the practical Xenomorph is cool (I love a guy in a suit), and the new alien species are interesting enough (that eye guy creeps me out). Sadly, the series just didn't get its claws into me, and I'm not exactly (chest)bursting to watch the final two episodes… I'd rather watch Alien instead. Their bond gives the story a raw human core – even when surrounded by Xenomorphs and morally bankrupt CEOs. Timothy Olyphant's performance as Kirsh, the synthetic caretaker, has also drawn praise for its cold charisma. Meanwhile, Samuel Blenkin plays the ruthless Boy Kavalier – a young tech billionaire obsessed with consciousness and immortality – who may be even scarier than the aliens. The show also adds new types of monsters to the mix, expanding the Alien universe in ways fans didn't expect. It's creepy, clever, and packed with surprises that keep viewers guessing. And it's not afraid to go deep, exploring themes like identity, power, and what it really means to be human. Of course, not everyone is completely sold. Vulture said the show's ambition sometimes gets in the way of its emotional payoff, calling it 'fascinating but flawed.' The Guardian praised the chilling world-building but felt parts of the plot were a bit unclear. Still, most reviews are leaning strongly positive – and the buzz isn't slowing down. In fact, Alien: Earth already feels like a major comeback for the franchise. It blends the best of classic horror, new sci-fi, and serious storytelling in a way that feels fresh and unexpected. Showrunner Noah Hawley, known for Fargo and Legion, has been praised for balancing terror with thought-provoking ideas. More Trending With six episodes still to come, Alien: Earth looks set to be one of the most talked-about shows of the year. And if early reactions are anything to go by, it might even end up being one of the most beloved sci-fi series as of late. The first two episodes of Alien: Earth are available to stream on Disney Plus now. The original version of this story was published on August 13. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: 7 of the worst TV endings of all time after 'disastrous' And Just Like That finale MORE: Amazon show that 'mentally scarred' our TV editor returns and you can binge it now MORE: And Just Like That's 'terrible' finale sparks fan conspiracy theory
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
New clues to mysterious extinct & ancient ‘Hobbit' humans that roamed earth 1 million years ago uncovered by scientists
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCIENTISTS have found new clues about a mysterious ancient human species - indicating they roamed around the earth a million years ago. The species called "Hobbit" was first discovered in 2004 when archaeologists searching a cave on an Indonesian island found a 60,000-year-old skull no bigger than a grapefruit. 6 Stone tools are pictured at the site where archaeologists found small, chipped tools, used to cut little animals and carve rocks Credit: Reuters 6 Archaeologists from Australia and Indonesia work at the site where they found small, chipped tools Credit: Reuters 6 A reconstruction sculpture of Homo floresiensis who lived tens of thousands of years ago Credit: Alamy And after some digging, archaeologists uncovered some very well-preserved fossil remains in the Liang Bua cave on Flores Island, Indonesia. The diminutive size of this new human species, scientifically called homo floresiensis, earned it the nickname "Hobbit". Shockingly, researchers believe the three-foot-tall hominin had survived until the end of the last Ice Age, some 18,000 years ago. That was much later than Neanderthals lived, later than any human species other than our own. But a new reseach has now found new stone tools that date back to at least a million years - near the place where homo floresiensis once existed. This suggests that the "Hobbit" species may have arrived far earlier than scientists previously estimated. The seven stone tools were found at an Early Pleistocene (Ice Age) site called Calio, located southern Sulawesi. Researchers from Griffith University and Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) dug up small, sharp flakes which early humans would have used as knives and blades. And through advanced dating techniques, the experts were able to confidently place the age of these tools at over 1.04 million years old. Gerrit van den Bergh, a vertebrate paleontologist from the University of Wollongong in Australia, told National Geographic: "At least one million years ago, there were tool-producing hominins on Sulawesi." Mystery Solved: The Story of 'The Screaming Woman' Mummy (1) Professor Adam Brumm, who led the study added: "This discovery adds to our understanding of the movement of extinct humans across the Wallace Line, a transitional zone beyond which unique and often quite peculiar animal species evolved in isolation." However, mystery still remains if the tools were used by "Hobbit" or members of a yet-undiscovered Human species. The homo floresienis were ancient humans that lived between 100,000 and 50,000 years ago. Adults stood just three-and-a-half feet tall and their brains were roughly one-third the size of our own, about the size of a chimpanzee's. 6 Researchers believed the three-foot-tall hominin had survived until the end of the last Ice Age 6 The Liang Bua cave on Flores Island where scientists found remains of 'hobbits' Credit: Alamy Scientists are still debating where they came from. One theory states the Hobbits may have arrived on the island from Java after being washed out to sea by a tsunami. Over time, they could have shrunk on their new island home – a strange yet common phenomenon known as island dwarfism. Their extinction happened around the time modern humans arrived, but the exact reasons are unknown. Who were the homo floresiensis? Homo floresiensis, nicknamed "the Hobbit", was a tiny human species discovered in 2003 on the Indonesian island of Flores. Fossils found in the Liang Bua cave revealed they were about 1 metre tall with very small brains, much smaller than modern humans. Despite this, they lived successfully on the island. They existed from around 100,000 to 50,000 years ago, at the same time as modern humans arrived in the area. They made stone tools, hunted small elephants and large rodents, and adapted to life alongside predators like Komodo dragons. Their ability to survive in such conditions was remarkable. Scientists are still debating where they came from. Some think they evolved from larger humans like Homo erectus, becoming smaller over time due to island living. Others believe they descended from much older ancestors. What's clear is that they were a completely unique species. The discovery of Homo floresiensis changed how we understand human evolution. It showed that brain size doesn't always equal intelligence and that humans were much more varied than previously thought.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
New clues to mysterious extinct & ancient ‘Hobbit' humans that roamed earth 1 million years ago uncovered by scientists
SCIENTISTS have found new clues about a mysterious ancient human species - indicating they roamed around the earth a million years ago. The species called "Hobbit" was first discovered in 2004 when archaeologists searching a cave on an Indonesian island found a 60,000-year-old skull no bigger than a grapefruit. 5 5 5 And after some digging, archaeologists uncovered some very well-preserved fossil remains in the Liang Bua cave on Flores Island, Indonesia. The diminutive size of this new human species, scientifically called homo floresiensis, earned it the nickname "Hobbit". Shockingly, researchers believe the three-foot-tall hominin had survived until the end of the last Ice Age, some 18,000 years ago. That was much later than Neanderthals lived, later than any human species other than our own. But a new reseach has now found new stone tools that date back to at least a million years - near the place where homo floresiensis once existed. This suggests that the "Hobbit" species may have arrived far earlier than scientists previously estimated. The seven stone tools were found at an Early Pleistocene (Ice Age) site called Calio, located southern Sulawesi. Researchers from Griffith University and Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) dug up small, sharp flakes which early humans would have used as knives and blades. And through advanced dating techniques, the experts were able to confidently place the age of these tools at over 1.04 million years old. Gerrit van den Bergh, a vertebrate paleontologist from the University of Wollongong in Australia, told National Geographic: "At least one million years ago, there were tool-producing hominins on Sulawesi." Professor Adam Brumm, who led the study added: "This discovery adds to our understanding of the movement of extinct humans across the Wallace Line, a transitional zone beyond which unique and often quite peculiar animal species evolved in isolation." However, mystery still remains if the tools were used by "Hobbit" or members of a yet-undiscovered Human species. The homo floresienis were ancient humans that lived between 100,000 and 50,000 years ago. Adults stood just three-and-a-half feet tall and their brains were roughly one-third the size of our own, about the size of a chimpanzee's. 5 5 Scientists are still debating where they came from. One theory states the Hobbits may have arrived on the island from Java after being washed out to sea by a tsunami. Over time, they could have shrunk on their new island home – a strange yet common phenomenon known as island dwarfism. Their extinction happened around the time modern humans arrived, but the exact reasons are unknown. Who were the homo floresiensis? Homo floresiensis, nicknamed "the Hobbit", was a tiny human species discovered in 2003 on the Indonesian island of Flores. Fossils found in the Liang Bua cave revealed they were about 1 metre tall with very small brains, much smaller than modern humans. Despite this, they lived successfully on the island. They existed from around 100,000 to 50,000 years ago, at the same time as modern humans arrived in the area. They made stone tools, hunted small elephants and large rodents, and adapted to life alongside predators like Komodo dragons. Their ability to survive in such conditions was remarkable. Scientists are still debating where they came from. Some think they evolved from larger humans like Homo erectus, becoming smaller over time due to island living. Others believe they descended from much older ancestors. What's clear is that they were a completely unique species. The discovery of Homo floresiensis changed how we understand human evolution. It showed that brain size doesn't always equal intelligence and that humans were much more varied than previously thought.
