6 days ago
Bedbugs have been bothering humans since caveman times, study finds
A new study suggests bedbugs may have been bothering humans for about 60,000 years, with their populations booming as people formed the first cities.
The research, published in Biology Letters, examined bedbug genetics and found two lineages: one that stayed on bats and one that targeted humans.
As humans built early cities like Mesopotamia around 12,000 years ago, bedbug populations thrived, making them one of the first human pests.
Professor Warren Booth notes that humans likely carried bedbugs from caves when they moved out around 60,000 years ago, resulting in less genetic diversity in the human-associated lineage.
Bedbug infestations saw a dramatic 35 per cent increase between 2022 and 2024, highlighting their resurgence after near-eradication due to the chemical DDT.
