How ancient cities made bedbugs our problem

Imagine snuggling into bed, only to discover you are not alone—tiny bedbugs might be hiding nearby, waiting for a midnight snack! These pesky insects have been bugging humans for thousands of years, but new research shows their rise is closely tied to how we built our very first cities (genetic analysis of bedbugs).

The surprising history of bedbugs and humans

Bedbugs are small, blood-sucking insects that have been around for more than 100 million years. Long before humans even existed, bedbugs likely fed on other animals. Over time, they started to munch on bats and, eventually, humans. But for most of their ancient history, bedbugs were not the big problem we know today.

How the invention of cities changed everything

So, what made bedbugs go from rare to everywhere? Scientists recently studied the DNA of bedbugs from the Czech Republic, including some that live with humans and others that live with bats (bedbug DNA study). They discovered that bedbug populations were shrinking about 45,000 years ago, during the last big ice age. But something special happened about 8,000 years ago: humans started living in the first large settlements, like the ancient city of Çatalhöyük in Turkey.

When people gathered together in cities, they brought their bedbugs with them, creating a bedbug paradise. All those cozy beds and warm bodies in close quarters helped bedbugs multiply faster than ever. As cities grew and spread, so did these sneaky pests.

For more on how changes in our world shape our health, check out this SlothMD article exploring the unique health challenges faced by young people today: how the world is changing for today’s young people.

Bedbugs: the first urban pest?

The study’s researchers believe bedbugs could be the first true urban insect pest, thriving thanks to our cities. But they are not alone in this title. Other parasites like head lice have been bothering humans for over a million years. Still, the connection between bedbugs and city life is extra strong. As humans built bigger and bigger cities, bedbugs found even more places to hide and more people to bite.

Why does bedbug history matter?

Understanding how bedbugs became so common helps us see how closely our lives and health are linked to the world around us. When humans started farming and living in one place, it wasn’t just our diets and cultures that changed. The creatures who live with us changed too—including pests like bedbugs.

Learning from bedbugs’ history can help us tackle today’s health challenges. Scientists are always searching for new ways to keep our homes safe from pests, just as they are finding new tricks to fight diseases and keep people healthy. Health AI tools, like those discussed on SlothMD, analyze the way germs and pests spread to help experts protect our families and communities. For more about how scientists map these changes, read this SlothMD article about creating a giant cell atlas: how our body’s cells work together and change in cancer.

What it means for patients

Although bedbugs are not known to spread dangerous diseases, their bites can be itchy, uncomfortable, and even cause allergic reactions. Today, bedbugs are found all over the world, especially in places where lots of people travel and live close together, like hotels and apartment buildings.

Knowing why bedbugs became so common reminds us how our choices—even ones made thousands of years ago—can affect our health today. By learning from the past, scientists and health AI platforms like SlothMD are better equipped to keep our homes and families safe from pests and other health risks.

So next time you tuck yourself in, remember: history and science are always in bed with us, sometimes quite literally!