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Virginia researchers bust myth about US bedbug resurgence in the 1990s
WTOP News • • science
Key Points:
- Research using whole genome sequencing shows that bedbug populations in Europe, the U.S., and Canada are genetically distinct, disproving the theory that international travel caused the 1990s bedbug resurgence in the U.S.
- Bedbugs likely never disappeared in the U.S. but persisted in low-income or rural areas with limited pest control, eventually resurging due to evolved resistance to most major insecticides.
- Bedbugs rapidly develop resistance to new insecticides, often within four to five years, making control difficult; they are now resistant to the majority of active ingredients used since the DDT ban in the 1970s.
- Infestations can start from a single pregnant female and multiply quickly, with populations growing to tens of thousands within months, spreading rapidly in multi-unit housing.
- Experts advise against DIY treatments due to high insecticide resistance and recommend professional pest control services for effective bedbug eradication.
