Abstract
The bed bugs (Cimex lectularius and C. hemipterus) have undergone a significant resurgence worldwide since the 1990s. A compilation of findings from a database, including 2650 scientific publications from seven major medical databases, allowed us to document main evolutionary events, from fossil evidence, dating from 11,000 years ago, until the present that has led to the current worldwide expansion of Cimicid species. We present the hypotheses on the possible dispersion pathways of bed bugs in light of the major historical and evolutionary events. A detailed classification of the Cimicidae family and finally, an illustrative map displaying the current distribution of known Cimex species in each geographical ecozone of Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Australia are presented.
Highlights
Bed bugs are obligate blood-sucking insects belonging to the Cimicidae family
The Cimex species currently reported in Europe are: C. lectularius, C. hemipterus, C. pipistrelli, C. columbarius, C. dissimilis, and C. emarginatus (Figure 5)
After WWII, cases of infestation declined in a number of African countries; but in some countries, high numbers of C. hemipterus and C. lectularius infestations were noticed during the 1970s and 1980s [124]
Summary
Bed bugs are obligate blood-sucking insects belonging to the Cimicidae family They are ectoparasites with a long history of presence in human communities. They are a major concern to public health and currently one of the most common ectoparasites, affecting human life worldwide [1]. The presence of bed bug populations in endemic areas of Chagas disease has questioned the competence of these insects in the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of the disease. The two cosmopolitan species, C. lectularius and C. hemipterus, feed almost exclusively on humans, and are responsible for significant infestation outbreaks. Since the 1990s, the formal reports of bed bugs resurgence in 135 countries from five continents pinpoint a serious problem for human wellness and health [7,8]. We talk over the Cimicids classification, and discuss the origin, evolution, and dispersion of these bugs
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