Epidemiology of bed bugs

Lore & Background

Bed bugs occur around the world. In developed countries, rates of infestation decreased from the 1930s to the 1980s, partly due to the use of DDT, the invention of the vacuum cleaner, and simplification of furniture design. Some believe the decline may simply reflect the cyclical nature of the organism. Since the 1980s, infestations have risen dramatically, possibly due to increased international travel, insecticide resistance, and new pest control methods that do not affect bed bugs.

In the United Kingdom, one London borough reported bed bug infestations doubling each year from 1995 to 2001, with evidence of a previous cycle in the mid-1980s. In 2010 the increase was estimated at around 24%, and by the hot summer of 2018 infestations had been increasing year-on-year in UK cities since 2006, likely due to higher temperatures. Bed bugs were commonly found on London buses and Tube trains.

In the United States, bed bugs have been reported in all 50 states. The National Pest Management Association reported a 71% increase in bed bug calls between 2000 and 2005. In New York City, reported incidents rose from 500 in 2004 to 10,000 in 2009. One theory suggests bed bugs never truly disappeared from the U.S. but may have been forced to alternative hosts, such as poultry facilities in Arkansas. In 2016, tropical bed bugs were discovered in Brevard County, Florida, marking a rare occurrence for a species historically uncommon in the U.S. with no established population eliminated during World War II.

Reader's Guide

The epidemiology of bed bugs illustrates a striking global resurgence after a mid-20th-century decline. Their return in developed countries since the 1980s has been linked to international travel, insecticide resistance, and changes in pest control practices. Infestations now affect a broad spectrum of settings—from luxury hotels to homeless shelters—and have prompted increased media coverage and pest management responses. In the United States, the resurgence led the Environmental Protection Agency to hold a National Bed Bug Summit in 2009. The pattern in the United Kingdom shows a steady year-on-year increase since at least 2006, with evidence of earlier cycles. The discovery of tropical bed bugs in Florida in 2016 suggests that species previously eliminated may re-establish. The persistence of bed bugs in poultry facilities and the lack of an evolutionary bottleneck in their DNA indicate that they may have survived in alternative hosts rather than being newly introduced. Understanding these epidemiological trends is important for public health and pest control strategies, as bed bugs cause discomfort and stress and are difficult to eradicate once established.

Did You Know?

• Rates of bed bug infestations in developed countries decreased from the 1930s to the 1980s, then rose dramatically after the 1980s.
• In one London borough, reported bed bug infestations doubled each year from 1995 to 2001.
• In 2016, tropical bed bugs (Cimex hemipterus) were discovered in Brevard County, Florida, a species that was historically rare in the U.S. and had no established population eliminated during World War II.