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Insect fighting is a blood sport involving insects. They are common in areas in China and Thailand. Like cockfights, there is a group of people who train and fight their insects against other insects in underground fighting arenas. Insect fighting is a traditional Chinese pastime that dates back to the Tang Dynasty of 618-907 and had long been mainly practiced by aristocrats, senior officials and wealthy merchants. It is also a casual activity for youth in western countries but it is not done professionally.

Contents 1 Structure 2 Object 3 Gambling 4 In the media 5 See also 6 External links

People who want to have these kinds of fights will normally hoard many different type of insects for the battles. Some of the most popular bugs are the Stag Beetle, the Cricket and the Goliath Beetle, as their sheer size and jumping ability make them formidable opponents. They are trained by their owners to become stronger and more aggressive. The training involves pulling stones or lead weights tied to the bug's back or running around an obstacle course to help with their ability to think.^{[citation needed]} Surprisingly enough, the insects are fed as if they were real boxers, being given fresh steaks and eggs. After the training is complete, the owners will take them to the designated fighting arena and the bugs are forced to fight each other.

The fight can take place on a log stump or a circle drawn in the dirt, anywhere that is a small ring. The ways to win these "battles" are by either one insect pushing the other out of the ring, one of them running out of the ring in fear (which happens very rarely), or one of them dying while fighting.

Of course, the actual training takes much time and effort and money from the owners, so to make more participate, bystanders and owners can gamble on their own and others' insects. This is where it violates the Animal Exploitation Law, as the insects have a very high chance of experiencing "unnecessary pain".

• In the Samurai Champloo episode Gamblers and Gallantry the main character trains a stag beetle for combat by tying a large rock to it.
• YouTube has many insect fight videos submitted by users.
• The most common insect the Chinese use are grasshoppers or praying mantis (mainly Chinese Mantis). Sometimes the fight will be two different type of insect fighting it out in a make shift "arena".

• Cricket fighting

• ABC News: Police bust insect fighting gambling ring

Bloodsports
Baiting • Bullfighting • Cockfighting • Dog fighting • Falconry • Sport fishing • Fox hunting • Hare coursing • Hunting • Insect fighting • Pigsticking