Insect fighting

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Insect fighting is a range of competitive sporting activity, commonly associated with gambling, in which insects are pitted against each other.[1]

Cricket fighting in China
Dock bug fighting with an ant

Background[]

Forms of insect fighting as spectator sport are practiced in regions of China, Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand. Some types have a long history; for example, cricket fighting is a traditional Chinese pastime that dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618–907). Originally an indulgence of emperors, cricket fighting later became popular among commoners.[2] Beetle fighting, with such beetles as the Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Xylotrupes socrates, Dorcus titanus, Goliathus, and dynastinae beetles also occurs, especially in Japan.[3][4] There is also an online fan community, watching those fights in videos on different platforms.[1] A YouTube community also strives in creating content for insect fighting.

In popular culture[]

Japanese Bug Fights (世界最強虫王決定戦)[5][6] refers to a more than 58-part video series featuring various kinds of insects, arachnids, and other creatures battling to the death in a little plastic arena. There are only two bugs to a fight and most fights end with one bug killing their opponent. In some cases, the fights end in a draw if neither bug is able to kill their opponent.

The Chinese Cricket Championships is a competition where the best cricket fighters go to Beijing to prove who is the best cricket fighter. The contest goes on for two days and usually takes place during autumn because that is when crickets are said to be at their prime age. This competition is much different than regular street cricket fighting because much investment goes into making sure the crickets can perform at their best. It is said that the crickets are given a diet of bean paste and water that helps with their training.[7] How the competition works is each cricket is divided into weight classes much like how fighters are divided in boxing and in UFC.

Gambling[]

Insect fighting attracts gambling that ranges from little bets to large scale type of bets depending where the fighting takes place. The entry-level to insect fighting is very low as all you need is to get a cricket, spider, or anything that can be forced to fight just to enter. It is a low-risk high reward in terms of investment. With the territory however there is crime and unfortunate deaths that occur as well.

In November 2018, the New York Post reported that an underground fighting ring was discovered in a casino and bets there went up to 140,000 dollars; two arrests were made.[8]

In the Philippines there has been reported fights that have caused casualties due to disputes over the betting from the spider fights. A 15 year old stabbed to death a 13 year old over an unpaid debt that only amounted to 10 cents, and another incident where a man was killed and another injured when shots were fired after a dispute over the winnings.[citation needed]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Hartenberger, Carla (2008-03-31). "Bug Fights, Hot Trend". The Tyee. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  2. ^ Andrew Jacobs (November 6, 2011). "Chirps and Cheers: China's Crickets Clash". The New York Times. p. A6.
  3. ^ Juni 2015, Beitrag von Galileo 14, Käfer-Hype in Tokio (in German), retrieved 2019-07-11
  4. ^ Inglese, Frank (2016-04-12). "A Look Into The Strange World Of Japanese Beetle Fighting". SnapThirty. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  5. ^ "Japan - Bug Fights". Vice Canada. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  6. ^ Markowitz, Riki (20 May 2008). "Ultimate (Bug) Fighting Championship". Maxim. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Crickets battle it out at Chinese championships". South China Morning Post. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  8. ^ Kaplan, Michael (2018-11-28). "Cricket fight fans bet $140,000 on illegal bug boxing matches". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
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