Bed Bugs Spreading in Paris and the World

Matt Unrein • June 19, 2024

Bed Bugs Found Paris and They are on the Rise


In the summer of 2023, there were videos of the going viral of bed bugs showing up all across Paris. The begs were spotted in the Paris metro, trains, movie theaters, and airports. One quote by a French politician talking to the French Parliament best sums up the situation for the people of Paris, "These little insects are spreading despair in our country."


However bedbugs are not just in Paris, the pest can be found in major cities all across the world and an Annual Review report shows that bed bugs have been on the rise for decades across the world. Research by Stephen L. Doggett and Chow-Yang Lee shows that bed bug reports have seen a significant increase in multiple major cities across the world.


The rise of bed bugs can be linked to multiple factors, the increase of travel, and population growth in the cities, but an important factor is the heavy use of insecticides. Because of the increased usage of these chemicals, bed bugs have developed a resistance against these insecticides. The ineffectiveness against these pests can be seen in a report from Cambridge, United Kingdom. The 1998 report describes an increase in bed bug incidents in the area and that insecticides were ineffective.


Research by Stephen L. Doggett and Chow-Yang Lee highlights a pattern of increased bed bug reports across the world for the past few decades. In Australia, there was a 700% increase in bed bug reports from 2001-2004 compared to the previous years. During the years of 2002 and 2003 in the United States, one of the largest multinational pest control companies reported a 500% increase in bed bug reports. In Tokyo, Japan bed bug enquiries saw an increase from 20 in 2000 to 350 in 2012. Bed bugs have also spread across East South Asia with a survey report by the National Environmental Agency of Singapore which highlighted an increase of bed bug treatment from zero in 2004 to more than 220 in 2013.


While the heavy use of insecticides which been linked to the rise of the bed bug population there are other key factors. Two of these key factors are the increase of city populations and more peopling traveling. With more people moving into major metropolitan cities, bed bugs will find more opportunities to hide and feed. Bed bugs love areas where warm bodies are densely packed together. The rise of Airbnb has also helped bed bugs spread. These pests love to hide on people and luggage to hitch a free ride and find a new place to nest and feed.


For the original articles please see here:

VOX

Annual Review

Visit our bed bug FAQ page to learn more or give us a call for urgent questions

By Carley Norton February 23, 2026
Though their name is misleading, bed bugs don’t just stick to bedding. Dark corners, warm fabrics, and just about any human or animal-occupied space can be a bed bug paradise. Furthermore, in a recent article from CBS News, we learn that these resilient pests don’t even stick to the ground—they were found boarded business class on a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight, purchased through Delta Airlines SkyMiles program. Having feelings of “bugs crawling on her and that she was being bitten”, Virginian Lisandra Garcia alerted a flight attendant, in fear that her family of four was being feasted upon. They were travelling from Atlanta to Amsterdam and were only met with demands to “keep their voices down” and to “not tell anyone about the infestation,” or else they would miss their connecting flight to Serbia. But after they found bugs on their clothing and even bugs on an airline napkin—on top of being threatened—a $200,000 lawsuit was filed against Delta and KLM. The flight attendants allegedly gave the family plastic bags to carry their personal belongings. “Afterwards, the family claims they learned that the flight attendants had filed a grievance with KLM because of the infestation.” The ignorance of the issue at such a professional level shows just how invasive and detrimental a bed bug infestation can be. After landing the next day, the lawsuit claims that the four were left with harsh welts, lesions, and rashes, which are shown in these supporting photos from the article. "To this day, Mrs. Garcia has scars on her lower back where she was bitten." In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson from Delta stated that the allegations relate to flights not operated by Delta Air Lines. KLM has been contacted but has not yet made a statement. Had the airline acted appropriately and taken the necessary precautions of treating the plane for pests, a lawsuit would have been avoided, a family would have flown injury and turmoil-free, and the company name would have skipped the harsh tainting. After travelling, it is always smart to inspect your body, luggage, car, and pets for signs of bed bugs, and when you find something unwanted, call the pest control pros at SOS. They specialize in safe, non-toxic, and effective thermal heat treatment, able to treat your entire house—including inside your walls—in a matter of a few hours. With a 90-day pest-free guarantee, SOS Pest Control is your saving grace when bed bugs choose you for their in-flight snack. If you are a commercial business owner, SOS has also treated and defended countless businesses from the same fate as Delta and KLM. Bed bugs can and will invade your commercial space, whether it be a warehouse, a storage unit, a doctor’s office, or a hair salon. But SOS arrives promptly and discreetly in unmarked vehicles so you can save your company’s name. Serving any area within an hour of their headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, call SOS Pest Control at 816-237-5342 for a free inspection and peace of mind. Don’t let pests invade your space and tank your business!
Bed bug history picture of medieval women presented by SOS Pest Control
By Carley Norton October 3, 2025
Humans have fought— and lost—many battles against pesky insects and rodents throughout history. From plague-ridden rats in 14th-century Europe to the modern comorbid mosquito, millions of people have fallen to opponents a fraction of their size. But the earliest war has lasted over 245,000 years and is still fought today: Humans versus bed bugs. A team of researchers at Virginia Tech studied the lineage of bed bugs and found that patterns in their activity coincided with the rise and fall of the human population over time. Though these findings admit the defeat of bed bug reign by humans, they can be used to predict future invasions as urban living develops, and to investigate the phenomenon of insecticide resistance in the determined bed bug species. Though bed bugs first preferred cave-dwelling bat blood, a group of them jumped over to the Neanderthals in those same caves, and their palates have remained un-cleansed ever since. In fact, humans became the bed bug’s exclusive source of sustenance, a preference shared by only one other insect species—head lice. Just like you won’t find a family of lice at the local park, you won’t find bed bugs in your garden—only in your bed and other suitable dark spots in your home. Bed bugs have hitchhiked and set up camp amongst humans for centuries, just waiting for the perfect time to indulge in their human midnight snacks. But there is good news. Bed bugs will not be the cause of any new plagues, as they cannot make humans sick. Though their bites, as well as their resilience, can be irritating, their harm is liminal, and there are easy methods for getting those lazy bones (or exoskeletons?) out of your bed. However, bed bugs are resistant to many residential chemicals, and consulting professionals is your best bet. First, call SOS Pest Control for a FREE inspection. If they do bombard on a bed bug sleepover, their safe and effective heat treatment heats your home’s walls to rid of bed bugs from the inside out. This safe, effective, and damage-free process takes little time, and SOS’ unmarked vehicles ensure your neighborhood won’t be all up in your business (as for businesses, we will make sure the neighborhood is back up in you soon). Call (816) 471-5733 today or visit online at soskc.com Original article: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2025/05/bed-bug-whole-genome-human-lineage-warren-bo
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