Science

eppur_se_muova

(36,269 posts) Fri Jan 30, 2015, 11:54 PM Jan 2015

Origin of bed bugs revealed (BBC)

Presented by
Melissa Hogenboom

"Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite," goes the familiar phrase. Unfortunately the statistics aren't in your favour, because these apple-pip-sized bugs are everywhere.

Hardly a week goes by without a news story of yet another infestation, and yet they are relatively understudied, says Warren Booth of the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, US.

Booth and his colleagues have used genetics to unveil the origin of bed bugs. They found that there are two lineages in Europe. They are so diverse, they have almost split into two species.

What's more, their origin lies with bats.

The research, published in the journal Molecular Ecology, provides the first genetic evidence that bats were the ancestral host of the bed bugs that plague human residences today.
***
more: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150130-origin-of-bed-bugs-revealed

9 replies

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Origin of bed bugs revealed (BBC) (Original Post) eppur_se_muova Jan 2015 OP

Fuckin Bats, man. Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #1

Heath Ledger should have been cast as the Bed Bug instead of as the Joker. Kaleva Jan 2015 #3

That's a fucking scary supervillian, right there. Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #8

I like bats shenmue Jan 2015 #2

Don't let the bedbugs bite marym625 Jan 2015 #4

K&R for having shed light on a fascinating subject. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #5

From the link... malokvale77 Jan 2015 #6

I thought this was going to be about Christie mindwalker_i Jan 2015 #7

My daughters lived in a town home where there was a outbreak Kalidurga Jan 2015 #9

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)

1. Fuckin Bats, man.

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Original post)

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 12:03 AM

Jan 2015

Kaleva

(36,312 posts)

3. Heath Ledger should have been cast as the Bed Bug instead of as the Joker.

Reply to Warren DeMontague (Reply #1)

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 01:21 AM

Jan 2015

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)

8. That's a fucking scary supervillian, right there.

Reply to Kaleva (Reply #3)

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 03:20 AM

Jan 2015

You want Gotham to tremble? Watch Gotham Tremble!

shenmue

(38,506 posts)

2. I like bats

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Original post)

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 01:00 AM

Jan 2015

I don't like bugs.

marym625

(17,997 posts)

4. Don't let the bedbugs bite

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Original post)

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 01:25 AM

Jan 2015

And if they do, pick a few and I'll fry them for you.

I hate bugs

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

5. K&R for having shed light on a fascinating subject.

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Original post)

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 01:33 AM

Jan 2015

Maybe we can get the bats to take the bed bugs back and let us sleep without fear that we are taking home unwanted guests when we have to stay in hotels. Is travel really worth it?

I've never had them, but that does not prevent me from checking the mattresses in hotels.

malokvale77

(4,879 posts)

6. From the link...

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Original post)

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 01:38 AM

Jan 2015

´There's two types of people, says Booth: "the type that have had bed bugs and the people that will still get them.´

Since I have not had them I guess I should prepare. Shields Up.

mindwalker_i

(4,407 posts)

7. I thought this was going to be about Christie

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Original post)

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 02:26 AM

Jan 2015

Or Christie and Palin

Kalidurga

(14,177 posts)

9. My daughters lived in a town home where there was a outbreak

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Original post)

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 04:00 AM

Jan 2015

The landlord refused to fumigate then told them they would have to pay for it, then they said, no way of course. Then the land lord said they were the reason for the outbreak and wanted them to pay for all the units to be fumigated. Then my middle daughter said you know what talk to my lawyer, then miraculously all the units got fumigated, it ended up taking about 3 times to finally get them all.

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