Insect gladiators

[simisker]

I'm of the opinion that once you view Arthropoda as "nature's robots", not only does this site become more entertaining, but also your view of the world - and your privileged position within - becomes more rational and life-enhancing.

Disgusting? Cruel?! I think some perspective is needed. Where would those decriers draw the lines of acceptance on a taxonomic tree?

Additionally, if you come away from this site without an increased admiration for the time-honed ingenuity of the natural world, you're one stone-cold son-of-a-thrip. You're witnessing millions of years' worth of proven-successful-in-the-field aggressive and defensive systems going 'pod-to-pod', as it were; how common a sight is that in our brief glimmers of existence?

The internet delivers yet again. Great site

[EDIT: Anyone recognise the victor of 28th? Whip Scorpion, perhaps?

Also, I have to admit that it's a bit unfair to contain those with flight-based defences against, say, the hornet. But hey, maybe there's a life metaphor for us all there ]

 

[GSXRMovistar]

Although I dislike insects it is kind of cruel, why not figt cocks or dogs while you're at it. Guess this is where the idea for Pokemon came from.

Fair point, where do you draw the line? Those Japs are rather odd.

 

[HAz]

cruel maybe, but if one of them disgusting insects was in my room I would freak out and it would have to die.

 

[GSXRMovistar]

cruel maybe, but if one of them disgusting insects was in my room I would freak out and it would have to die.

So true

 

[Carzy]

Brilliant website!

 

[V|per]

round 14, what the hell is that fighting with the mantis ??

It's the thing that moody showed harry potter the 3 illegal spells on in harry potter and the goblet of fire

 

[V|per]

14th? What about the ninth?!

14th is definately a whip scorpion, i think one of the bugs (the cricket like one) is a giant Weta, but i have nfi what the long-legged-centepede-thing is

Anyone recognise the victor of 28th? Whip Scorpion, perhaps?

#28 could be some king of whip scorpian, but i don't think it's claw arms are long enough for it to be classified as one.

 

[Raikiri]

Aye, I had seen the one in the 14th before but the 9th was completely new to me.

 

[simisker]

[...] i have nfi what the long-legged-centepede-thing is [...]

It's probably a House Centipede: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_centipede

Unless they've gone ultra-exotic and used the [disappointingly mundanely named] Long-Legged Centipede [see here: http://www.cavesofmalaysia.com/photopage1.htm].

Anyone who's seen the David Attenborough film about the bat caves will recognise the huge spindly venomous bugger.

 

[V|per]

Don't think it's a house centipede, that was my 1st thought, but house centipede's are sooo much smaller than that.

Thinking about my previos post, im doubting the cricket-thing is a weta, as im pretty sure they are herbivores... biting something's legs off probably wouldn't come too naturally for a weta

 

[FrostedNipple]

that was crazy!!! hahaha

 

[Fiocca]

Haha! A bit cruel but at the end of the day, no one in here can say they've not killed an insect on purpose for no reason apart from being annoying, so whats the difference?

 

[kai]

Round 11 aint that the lobster admiral huddy was looking after?

 

[Tefal]

the beetles armour is surprisingly strong.

 

[Fiocca]

I'm a bit surprised that the spider didn't use it's web as a weapon to disable the scorpion. Would have worked a treat!

 

[Tefal]

I'm a bit surprised that the spider didn't use it's web as a weapon to disable the scorpion. Would have worked a treat!

takes em a few hours to knock one up

the camel spider vs mantis was an awesome one.

 

[Fiocca]

takes em a few hours to knock one up

the camel spider vs mantis was an awesome one.

Should have used the "Go web, GO!" technique on it tbh

 

[Hlebio]

Admittely interesting, but rather cruel.. and before anyone asks (or accuses) me whether I'd kill any of the insects in those videos, my answer is no. Why would I?

Anyone perhaps think some of those insects are killed by the people behind it? I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure the Stag Beetle's mandibles don't have any crushing power, and are only there for males competing (pushing) with other males to impress females. In the video between the Stag Beetle and the Scorpion they are tussling and the Scorpion seems fine afterwards yet the camera cuts off and the next shot is the Scorpion on it's back dead..... I'll bet a lot of the time the insect judged to have been less aggressive will be killed off by one of the Japanese.

 

[shauncr91]

Oh dear, what is the world coming to?

 

[Shoseki]

As if I needed another reason to dislike the Japanese....

If you look hard enough, you'll find excuses to "dislike" any culture. Try not to think of the videos that could be put around that show where you are from in a bad light.

This to me is like schoolboy thrills, but I have watched a few of them, if only to try and understand the mechanics. That hornet was a nasty piece of work. Some of them are particularly cruel, especially when they don't actually want to fight.

Sad as this sounds, I could probably only accept the outcome if I'd proper statistical samples... for example 3-400 individual cases of species A vs species B, A wins 35% B wins 65% etc and why. In some ways its a little bit like robot wars.

Tremendous waste of those species though, to be ecological you'd probably have to farm them to fight to do the research, but then even their environment would be "different", they wouldn't necessarily undergo the same tough lifestyle.

The researcher in me is interested from biomechanical point of view, the mature human in me recognises this website is probably only interested in a cheap thrill.