Latest news with #bedbugs
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
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.
The Independent
29-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Scientists identify key shift that led to huge rise in bedbugs
Bedbugs may have been interrupting human sleep for more than 50,000 years, but it was only when humans left caves and formed the first cities that their populations really boomed, according to a new study. 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 "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.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Bedbug numbers soared when humans left caves and moved to cities, scientists find
Bedbugs may have been interrupting human sleep for more than 50,000 years, but it was only when humans left caves and formed the first cities that their populations really boomed, according to a new study. 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 "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.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cavemen battled bedbugs, study finds
Cavemen suffered from bedbugs, according to a study. The small insects have been plaguing human sleep for at least 50,000 years, but populations boomed when humans left caves behind and started forming basic cities, around 13,000 years ago. A study on the genetics of bedbugs found the pest split into two lineages millennia ago, with one staying on bats and the other adapting to target sleeping people. Both groups saw a decrease in numbers during the last Ice Age around 20,000 years ago, the scientists found. Analysis of the genes of the two types of bedbugs revealed the bedbugs recovered at different rates depending on what animal they lived on. Bedbugs that lived in human beds fared better than those still living on bats, the scientists discovered. Data reveals the bedbug association with humans 'dates back potentially hundreds of thousands of years', and around 13,000 years ago there was a population boom for bedbugs. This is the same time their human hosts were starting to form primitive civilisations. It likely triggered the surge in bedbug numbers, the scientists conclude, because no boom was seen in bedbugs that lived on bats. 'Modern humans moved out of caves about 60,000 years ago,' said Dr Warren Booth, the study author from Virginia Tech. '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.' The two bedbug types have not yet diverged enough to become different species but are still undergoing evolution as a result of bug spray and other measures, which target and kill bedbugs, it added. The study is published in the journal Biology Letters. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
28-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Cavemen battled bedbugs, study finds
Cavemen suffered from bedbugs, according to a study. The small insects have been plaguing human sleep for at least 50,000 years, but populations boomed when humans left caves behind and started forming basic cities, around 13,000 years ago. A study on the genetics of bedbugs found the pest split into two lineages millennia ago, with one staying on bats and the other adapting to target sleeping people. Both groups saw a decrease in numbers during the last Ice Age around 20,000 years ago, the scientists found. Analysis of the genes of the two types of bedbugs revealed the bedbugs recovered at different rates depending on what animal they lived on. Bedbugs that lived in human beds fared better than those still living on bats, the scientists discovered. Data reveals the bedbug association with humans 'dates back potentially hundreds of thousands of years', and around 13,000 years ago there was a population boom for bedbugs. This is the same time their human hosts were starting to form primitive civilisations. It likely triggered the surge in bedbug numbers, the scientists conclude, because no boom was seen in bedbugs that lived on bats. 'Modern humans moved out of caves about 60,000 years ago,' said Dr Warren Booth, the study author from Virginia Tech. '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.' The two bedbug types have not yet diverged enough to become different species but are still undergoing evolution as a result of bug spray and other measures, which target and kill bedbugs, it added. The study is published in the journal Biology Letters.
