Bed bugs have been haunting humans since the beginning of recorded time. In fact, fossilized bed bugs have been found at archeological sites that date back more than 3,500 years. New Jersey pest control experts believe that these bloodsucking bugs originally fed upon bats and humans in caves in the Mediterranean. As civilization progressed out of the caves, so did the bugs.
Research has shown that bed bugs began to spread throughout Europe and Asia as early as 100 A.D. Just like in today’s modern times, bed bugs of years ago crossed socio-economic lines. Bed bugs were equally found among the rich in castles and among the working class in huts. Bed bugs multiplied with ease with the heat that was generated from cooking fires and sleeping quarters.
It is widely believed that bed bugs made their way around the globe aboard cargo ships in the 16th and 17th century. Dealing with these tenacious bloodsuckers were likely a way of life for most people. History shows that cleanliness factors were low and bed bugs were one of many types of pests that people dealt with on a regular basis. By the early 1900’s the shift in the standards of cleanliness began and the public became aware of steps that could be taken to destroy pests that invaded their homes.
In 1942, DDT was evaluated as a pesticide to be used against bed bug infestations. Scientists were hopeful that this new chemical would be more economical and effective at killing bed bugs in military barracks. The USDA Bureau of Entomology deemed DDT to be “phenomenal” and a new bed bug killing agent was born. It did not take long for DDT to become a popular household name throughout the United States.