The Ancient Bed Bug – The History of Cimex Lectularius

The Dreaded Cimex, It’s Ancient Roots and Sudden Resurgence in Modern Times.

One of the most adapted insects ever to plague humans, the dreaded Bed Bug which has also been known as “red coates”, “mahogany flats”, and “wall lice” have been around since the beginnings of recorded history, dating back to ancient Egypt more than 3000 years ago and mentioned in the writing of Aristotle. In Egypt and Rome, they were called the “Cimex”. The scientific name is “Cimex Lectularius” and they may have originated in the same caves where civilization began ages ago living along with bats. Studies suggest that they parasitized bats first and then jumped on to humans.


Beginning in Ancient Egypt
Bed Bugs have been found fossilized and been discovered at archaeological sites in Egypt. They thrived when villages and then cities in the Middle East grew. Civilization grew and the Bed Bugs multiplied and spread all throughout Asia and Europe.
By 100 A.D., Bed Bugs were a well-known presence in Italy, in 600 A.D. in Asia, in the 1200s in Germany and by the 1400s in France. Heat that was generated from cooking and sleeping fires offered Bed Bugs a sustainable life in families residing in great estates as well as the working class.
The Cimex in England and Ancient Greece
England first reported Bed Bugs in the1500’s. afterwards, they arrived in the Americas, riding along with the European settlers.
In Natural History books published in Rome around before 100 AD, medical values for these bloodsucking insects included the treatment of ailments like infections and venomous snake bites.
This belief in their medical value continued until the 18th century when it is noted they were being used to treat hysteria.

Grief in the 1800’s
The early colonists brought the bugs with them to the Americas. In the earlier part of the 18th century, writings documented major infestations in Canada and the English colonies. By the 1800s, they were abundant everywhere in North America.
To get rid of the bugs, English settlers would often make their beds out of sassafras wood and doused the crevices of their houses with boiling water, sulfur and arsenic. However, Indian villages were apparently never affected.
Sailing ships of this time were overrun with Bed Bugs. Among the other horrors of sailing ships of these times Bed Bugs were attacking sailors in huge numbers while they were sleeping at night.

The Arrival in Europe
Germany first mentioned the bugs in the 11th century. They were then mentioned as appearing in France during the 13th century. England’s first mention was in the year 1585, until 1670 the bugs were rather rare in England.
Transportation at that time was ideal for Bed Bugs. Travelers had a habit of pulling their beds away from the walls and would immerse the legs of their beds in containers full of water.


Bed Bugs in the 20th Century
By the 20th century, most Americans had at least seen one and most had been bitten. Bed Buds are now considered one of the top three pests concerning.
Surveys taken then showed that almost 1/3rd of all the residences in most of the cities were infested. In the lower income areas, nearly all the residences had been infested at some point. In the lower income areas, they were the #1 public enemy.
Then something unusual happened. Suddenly, the Bed Bug population significantly diminished, at least in the countries that were developed. By 1950, entomologists were having trouble even finding live bugs for their studies. What happened?

The Old Fashion Treatment Methods
Over the years, there have been many formulas claiming they could control and eliminate Bed Bug infestations. If some of these poisonous formulas were used today, it would result in jail time.
By the 1800s, everyone, poor and rich alike were plagued with Bed Bugs. People discovered that vigorous house cleaning assisted in eliminating Bed Bugs.
The larger benefit from vigorous housekeeping was in detecting the infestations during their vulnerable initial stages. The best remedy was and still is extreme cleaning and continuous care and examining all the cracks and crevices to ensure there are no more Bed Bugs hiding in these tiny hiding places.

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane Otherwise Known as DDT
In the ‘50s, DDT was extensively used to exterminate cockroaches and other bug populations. DDT worked very well, and infestations decreased rapidly. The DDT would be dusted or sprayed all over the household.
This method of pest control would last up to a year. In 1972, the use of DDT was banned. It was discovered that DDT as well as other pesticides was a cause of some cancer and endangered wildlife, especially the bird population.
It is also believed that the vacuum cleaner and simplified furniture design also assisted in helping elimination. Some believe that it may have been the organisms’ cyclical nature, but no one knows for sure what the true cause of the dramatic Bed Bug population decrease was.

The Bed Bug Plague is Now a Worldwide Problem
Bed Bugs reside all over the world now. The infestation rates in the developed countries had decreased from the ‘30s to the ‘80s. However, their numbers have been greatly increasing since the ‘80s. Before this, they were still rather common in the developing parts of the world, but extremely rare in the developed world.
Infestations began increasing even more rapidly over the past few years. The current number of infestations is like the infestations of last century. The number of Bed Bug infestations is still on the rise everywhere.
Even though Bed Bugs became resistant to DDT in a few years, exterminators were still able to control Bed Bug populations with the use of other chlorinated hydrocarbons like lindane. An organophosphate insecticide known as malathion was also widely used.
By the 1950’s they were no major pests in the household anymore, only an occasional pest outbreak would be noted. Generally, they would be found in slums or in areas with other rather unusual circumstances. Every so often a problem may arise in a larger public area, but almost never in hotels or homes.
The Bed Bug Resurgence
Bed Bugs seem to be the most detested of all household pests. Infestations get out of control and they can be difficult or almost impossible to eliminate. The chemical extermination methods were dangerous to people’s health. In the battle of today’s worldwide resurgence, we can learn from the past.

They are known for hiding in bags or attaching themselves to clothing during travel. Looking back in history it is clear that the recent resurgence of Bed Bugs followed the same pattern.
The extreme infestations began once again in the late 1990’s. They first appeared in ‘hub’ cities like Miami, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Showing Up in Hotels and Motels
In the 1990’s, they showed up in more and more hotels. These infestations were not limited to the less expensive establishments either. They began showing up in fancy hotels, single-family homes, apartments, hospitals and even on public transportation.
Unfortunately, today Bed Bugs are still appearing in larger numbers. This is not a slow comeback, but a very quick one indeed. They are mentioned every day in national news as wide spread infestations continue.
Some research indicates that as many as 50% of the residents in various cities have reported Bed Bug infestations.
Bed Bug infestations have reached epidemic levels in many cities. This kind of widespread infestation has never been seen before.


Bed Bugs are Back!
It is abundantly clear that Bed Bugs have made a major resurgence in recent years. This resurgence has occurred throughout most of the world. Their increase has been acknowledged in Mexico, Canada, The United States, Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa. That’s pretty much everywhere.

The Evans Pest Heat Solution
One thing is clear, the scientific approach in analysis and solution is best when dealing with pests like the ancient Bed Bug. Chemicals are not always effective, and may be dangerous, but in recent years the development of new technology that gradually heats the environment to the “kill zone” has worked. This new technology is eco-friendly and effective. Call Evans Pest Control to learn more or visit out informative website for more details.



Evans Pest Control in Philadelphia consists of a team of professional and skilled exterminators who are dedicated to using the scientific method to control pest populations. Founded by Charles Evans, Evans Pest Control Inc. is a family-run business.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Evans Pest Control at 267 582 2687 or email at info@evanspestmgmt.com.