Bed bugs are most likely the first human pest, new research shows

These bugs may be the oldest pests humans have had to deal with

Bed bugs are more than just a modern nuisance. New research shows they have been with us since humans first started living in caves around 60,000 years ago. That makes them possibly the earliest household pests in human history. The study, published in Biology Letters, examined the genetic history of two kinds of bed bugs. One lived on bats, and he other followed humans. Both populations shrank during the last Ice Age, but only the human-adapted…

Bed Bugs May be The First Human Pest, Having Spread to Neanderthals 60,000 Years Ago

Learn how bed bugs became our oldest known pest as they co-evolved with humans, starting with our Neanderthal ancestors.

Humanity's 'first true urban pest' has been biting for 60,000 years, study shows

Bed bugs have been biting humans since they emerged from caves around 60,000 years ago making them possibly the “first true urban pest,” a new study found.

Scientists say bed bugs are humanity’s oldest unwanted roommates

They have been bugging people since they hopped off a bat and attached themselves to a Neanderthal around 60,000 years ago.

Bed bugs have been bothering humans for 60,000 years

We humans might be the Earth’s apex predator, but it’s bugs that really rule the world. At least 5 million insect species live on our planet and some of them like to take up residence right alongside us. That includes bed bugs (Cimex lectularius). These pesky bugs have been thriving off of our blood for at least 60,000 years ago and may be considered our first “pest.”  According to a comparison of two recently sequenced whole genomes of two gene…

How bed bugs evolved alongside humans over thousands of years

Ever since a few enterprising bed bugs hopped off a bat and attached themselves to a Neanderthal walking out of a cave 60,000 years ago, bed bugs have enjoyed a thriving relationship with their human hosts.