Bed Bugs (Hemiptera, Cimicidae): Overview of Classification, Evolution and Dispersion

• Main Authors: Mohammad Akhoundi, Denis Sereno, Remy Durand, Asad Mirzaei, Christiane Bruel, Pascal Delaunay, Pierre Marty, Arezki Izri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: Ectoparasite; Fossil; Evolution; Dispersion; <i>C. lectularius</i>; <i>C. hemipterus</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4576

The bed bugs (<i>Cimex lectularius</i> and <i>C. hemipterus</i>) 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 <i>Cimicid</i> 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 <i>Cimex</i> species in each geographical ecozone of Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Australia are presented.