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Singing and Fighting Insects Around the World. a Brief Review

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Etnobiología 3: 21-29, 2003 ENTERTAINMENT WITH INSECTS: SINGING AND FIGHTING INSECTS AROUND THE WORLD. A BRIEF REVIEW Eraldo Medeiros Costa-Neto Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Km 03, BR 116 Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil CEP 44031-460 [email protected] ABSTRACT The interaction between humans and insects is briefly presented by viewing the cultural practices related to the keeping of singing Orthopterans and fighting crickets, which take place in some parts of the world, especially in Asian countries. Key words: ethnoentomology, cricket-fighting, singing insects, Orthoptera, folklore. RESUMEN La interacción ser humano/insectos es brevemente presentada a través de las prácticas culturales relacionadas con el mantenimiento de Ortópteros cantantes y grillos de pelea, las cuales se realizan en algunos rincones de la tierra, especialmente en los países de Asia. Palabras clave: etnoentomología, grillos de pelea, insectos cantantes, Orthoptera, folklore. Introduction insects is due to the prejudiced attitudes that associate insects with aboriginal people. In Prior to the arrival of modern humans in the contrast, Eastern Asian cultures have a more evolutionary set, insects had already been balanced perspective regarding insects than in playing important ecological roles by providing the West, where most insects are related to filth a range of services in order to maintain the or are dangerous (DeFoliart 1999, Pemberton structure of the most terrestrial ecosystems 1999). According to these authors, Asians (Morris et al. 1991). In view of their abundance consider insects to be aesthetically pleasing, and the range of their impact on the lives of our good to eat, interesting pets, subjects of sport, early ancestors, it is not surprising that insects enjoyable to listen to and useful in medicine. have become thoroughly integrated into human Chinese people, for instance, have a general culture (Meyer 1999). Thus, insects have reverence and appreciation for nature that allows influenced humans’ lives in quite different ways them to understand insects as an important part as they are used as food, medicine, cosmetics, of nature. etc. They were taken as symbols and are usually the main performers of traditional myths, This understanding has led to an legends and folk stories. They also were and will extensive incorporation of insects within continue to be the inspiration for art, music, Chinese philosophy and aesthetic symbolism (Ju philosophy, literature and ritual dances (Kevan 1993). Among the innumerable Chinese deities, 1981, Keiser 1966, Costa-Neto 1998, Coelho there is one, Chung-Wang, which is linked to the 2000). Taoist sect and is the ruler of all insects. Two Unfortunately, many people (especially divine entities with antagonistic powers are Westerners) demonstrate attitudes and feelings subordinated to this god: one protects the crops of disdain, fear and aversion towards insects and against plagues; the other intends to devastate other invertebrates (Kellert 1993). That’s why the cultivated fields by sending upon them the most pernicious insects (Carrera 1991). these organisms are commonly killed without hesitation. As Ramos-Elorduy (1998) says, the Orthopterans stand out from the myriad promotion of negative stereotypes towards of living insects due to their cultural meaning. 20 Costa-Neto, E. M. Locusts have special recognition due to their were an important part of the Chinese culture destructive force as plagues (Hogue 1987). The (New 1995). From times prior to the Tang representatives of the order Orthoptera are dynasty (500 b. C. - 618 a. C.), people only commonly known as grasshoppers, katydids, appreciated the cricket’s powerful tunes. From crickets, mole crickets and jumping sticks. These about 618-906 a. C., crickets were kept in cages arthropods are characterized by presenting the for enjoyment of their songs. The sport of cricket following general morphological traits: an ovoid fighting was developed strongly under the Song head with mandibulate mouthparts; leathery fore dynasty (906-1278 a. C.). The earliest wings and membranous hind ones, with a publication teaching how to use crickets for complex, reticulate vein pattern and the last pair fighting appeared in this dynasty. According to of legs are generally used for jumping. Another Wu Jichuan, president of the Chinese Cricket feature is their ability to produce sounds, Lovers Association, these fights became popular especially at night. Most of the Orthopterans are with people of all social classes, including royal vegetarian and some species are important family members, high-ranking officials, wealthy plagues of cultivated plants (Borror and DeLong merchants and the poor (Tianxin 2002). The 1969). decline of the South Song dynasty (1213-1275) According to Hogue (1993), these was attributed in part to the passion of the insects present a wide range of cultural premier Jia Shi-Dao (1213-1275) for cricket meanings. Chinese people, in particular, have a fighting and his consequent neglect of affairs of high regard for crickets and other musical the state. China also yielded the Cricket Emperor, Ming Xuan-Zhong (ca. 1427-1464). Orthoptera (Hogue 1993). There are several explanations to the importance of insects in Once the emperor favored cricket human culture, but their meaning often rests in fighting, these orthopterans became the primary their symbolic value (Kellert 1993). For tribute for the palace. Each year, thousands of example, local names of katydids both in carefully selected crickets were sent to the Spanish and Portuguese mean “hope” in capital where many people’s financial fate was reference to the green color of so many species placed in the mandibles of these insects (Jin of the family Tettigoniidae, the symbolic color 1994). Cricket fighting was then taken very of this emotion (Hogue 1993). seriously and knowledge about crickets was in As an attempt to briefly discuss the use high demand. of insects as objects of entertainment, this article In the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing aims to gather information on singing insects (1644-1911) dynasties, cricket-fighting was all and fighting crickets as they were recorded in the the rage in Beijing. Most cricket fights took literature until now. place in Beijing’s largest cricket markets two months after the Autumnal Equinox (September Fighting insects 23 or 24). Those areas were located in Cricket-fighting is an ancient and very popular Beixinqiao Residential Area, Dongsi Decorated form of entertainment carrying the same Archway, Xisi Decorated Archway, and household recognition that bull-fighting has in Tianqiao Market. However, the number of Spain (Ju 1993). The persistent use of singing Beijing’s cricket breeders and cricket fighting insects and fighting crickets has deep cultural lovers has decreased in interest due to the roots in China (Jin 1994). Laufer (1927) has amusement provided by the multi-media and its written a fascinating essay related to the use of effects on people’s life styles (Tianxin 2002). On crickets both as vocalists and pugilists in China. the other hand, due to the migration of Chinese Crickets are also caught and trained for fighting to other parts of the world, cricket fighting is in traditional Vietnam (Coyaud 2000). These now found in Western large cities such as New insects have truly earned the attention they York and Philadelphia. In this latter, the species receive from Chinese people due to their sounds, used probably is Gryllus pennsylvanicus intelligence and competitiveness (Jin 1994). Burmeister. In Table 1, are mentioned the There were three main periods when insects fighting and singing Orthoptera of the world 21 Etnobiología 3, 2003 recorded nowadays, with their common names societies catering to the interest of members at and country where they are employed. all levels of intensity. People use to say that the Numerous tragedies and comedies linked specimens coming from mainland China (Chin- to this traditional practice are recorded in the Yuan, Tsong-Hua and Hua-Shian) are the best ancient Chinese literature (Jin 1994). In the fighters (Kevan and Hsiung 1976). In a footnote XIIIth century, Kia-Se-Tau wrote the book “Cu these authors stated that the fighting crickets Zhi Jin”. It gathered related philosophy, belong to several species, most commonly literature and science into one volume that Teleogryllus mitratus (Burmeister 1838). They probably represents one of a very small number also pointed out that crickets are caught and sold of books to treat any organism in such broad specially in summer and autumn, but people in interest. Criteria for good fighting crickets Hong Kong continue to gamble on them in the detailed ecological habitats and specific winter. characteristics of the body, head, pronotum, Gamblers have two ways of bettings on wings, legs and color pattern, although some of cricket fights: (a) usual, in which the individual these seem unreasonable. The book went on to cricket owners (and their supporters) wager $10 diagnose various cricket diseases, cures, ways to or $20 (per fight) against each other; and (b) use females, food, medicine, tickling brushes gambling organized by certain clubs. In the latter and addressed many other subjects in great case, people assemble at what are called “cricket detail. By default, this book became the classic hunting meets”. Those participating use the cricket bible for cricket fans. Several similar words pin (“cake”) and chu (“pig”) to indicate books were published, such as “Histories of the size of their stakes. The former means $5; the Crickets” of Lin-Tung and “Book of the latter, $200. With the exception of the owners of Crickets” of Fang-Hu (Carrera 1991). the contestants wagering against each other, all As soon as immature crickets are old the gamblers under this system may bet on either enough to be sexed, males are caged in elaborate side (Kevan and Hsiung 1976). Wealthy people houses and receive special food consisting of usually bet high amounts of money on the rice mixed with fresh cucumbers, boiled outcome of the fights.
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