Insect fighting

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.

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.

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.

• Spider-fighting
• Monster Bug Wars