When did bedbugs appear? - briefly
Bedbugs (Cimex spp.) are known from Cretaceous amber fossils, indicating they originated roughly 100 million years ago. Their early hosts were likely birds, with later adaptation to mammals, including humans.
When did bedbugs appear? - in detail
Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) belong to the family Cimicidae, a lineage that dates back to the Cretaceous period. Fossil specimens preserved in amber from approximately 100 million years ago demonstrate that cimicids were already feeding on the blood of vertebrates long before the emergence of modern humans.
Archaeological and textual evidence places the first documented interaction between humans and these insects in antiquity. Egyptian tomb paintings from the 14th century BCE depict individuals sleeping on woven mats, a setting conducive to bedbug infestations. Classical Greek authors, including Aristotle, described small, nocturnal insects that bit sleepers, a description consistent with modern bedbugs. Biblical references to “swarms of flies” in the book of Leviticus are also interpreted by some scholars as early mentions of cimicid activity.
Key historical milestones:
- ~100 Mya – Cretaceous amber fossils confirm the existence of cimicid ancestors.
- ~1380 BCE – Egyptian art and burial records indicate human‑bedbug contact.
- 4th century BCE – Greek literature provides the first written description of nocturnal biting insects.
- Middle Ages (5th–15th centuries) – Bedbug infestations become common in European dwellings, especially in crowded urban environments.
- Early 20th century – Widespread use of organochlorine insecticides reduces populations dramatically.
- Late 20th century (1990s onward) – Development of resistance to pyrethroids, increased global travel, and changes in pest‑control practices trigger a resurgence worldwide.
The contemporary resurgence is characterized by high prevalence in both temperate and tropical regions, documented in residential, hospitality, and institutional settings. Molecular studies reveal that modern infestations derive from a limited number of resistant lineages that expanded rapidly after the collapse of earlier control measures.