The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis.
For the past several weeks, I’ve been wrapping up revisions on my bed bug book, which is due to my publisher at the end of this month. Going through the manuscript got me thinking not only about the origin of the bed bug, but of bloodsucking insects in general. When did that happen?
According to Michael Lehane’s The Biology of Blood-Sucking in Insects, these blood feeders may have evolved their ability to feed on blood at least six unique times during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, between 200 to 65 million years ago (note: if you’re checking his numbers, remember we’re talking insects here—not ticks and other biting arthropods).
Read the full, original story: How Did Insects Evolve To Feast On Your Blood?
