Engorged Bed Bug

Bed Bug History

Bed Bugs have been around probably since the dawn of man. They are first noted by the philosopher Aristotle in Greece around 350 BC. These parasites were used to treat spider bites, snake bites, and ear infections during this time. In the 1700’s bed bugs were used as a cure for such emotional disorders as hysteria. These blood suckers were given a boost in their numbers when they were introduced into the major metropolitan city of London in 1666. There was a great fire that practically burnt the city to the ground. Wood and timber was brought in from outside sources and it is thought this is how the majority of bed bugs hitch hiked their way to this large closely quartered human population. When America was colonized people from Europe traveled by sailing vessels to the New World. The bugs hitched their passage on these ships. Things got so bad in the 1700’s that the colonists coming over were not allowed to bring any bedding aboard the ships in fear that they might bring more bed bugs with them. The major infestation in the United States was exterminated by the use of DDT in the 1940’s and 1950’s, but this was short lived when it was banned for use as a pesticide in 1973. With no general purpose pesticide for dealing with this bed bug scourge they are multiplying rapidly in our cities and branching out to rural areas. In the last few years these blood sucking parasites have had a 500% increase in some metropolitan areas.