Bed bugs are thought to have originated in the Middle East and have been known to humans for thousands of years. They are believed to have traveled to the United States with early settlers and traders and became a widespread pest in the country during the early 20th century.
It is not possible to determine who specifically brought bed bugs to the United States, but the pests likely arrived through international travel and trade, as well as the movement of infested items such as furniture, clothing, and luggage. The ease of travel and lack of effective pest control measures have contributed to the rapid spread of bed bugs in the US and around the world.
The use of DDT, a potent insecticide, in the 1940s and 1950s effectively controlled bed bugs in the United States and other parts of the world. However, DDT was banned in the 1970s due to its harmful effects on wildlife and the environment. Since then, bed bug populations have resurged and continue to spread globally.