In this corner: Japanese pet beetles

	VIDEO
CNN's Matt Walsh introduces us the the sport of beetle wrestling. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

June 22, 2000
Web posted at: 1:49 p.m. EDT (1749 GMT)

(CNN) -- Beetle raising is a popular hobby for some Japanese people. With the insects in short supply, Tokyo pet dealers can command as much as 200,000 yen for a large one. One of the ways beetle owners have found to show off their prized specimens is by placing them on a log to do battle.

The owners prod the beetles with long spoons to excite them and a referee blows puffs of air onto them to start the battle. The insects lunge at each other with their powerful jaws and sleek bodies, making small clicking noises on contact.

The beetles stay locked together until one beetle is pushed off the log by its opponent or when one of them turns around and runs. While these contests may seem a bit barbaric to some, the beetle battles are just one of the many ways the Japanese people enjoy their insect pets.

CNN's Matt Walsh has the full story.