Bugminton Anyone?

[Ray]

I enjoy a great sport every year about this time when these big shiny green bugs show up in my backyard, mostly in my peach tree eating the overripe fruit.

Known as the Green Fruit Beetle (Cotinis Mutabilis), these things are about an inch and a quarter long, heavy, and buzz around slowly not too far off the ground.



Some years ago I discovered that a badminton racket is the perfect weapon to attack these suckers. Actually, it’s great exercise running around the backyard chasing them while practicing my backhand and overhead smash.

When you hit one, they really take off! One of my better shots went flying over the top of my house and I heard a loud SMACK! I walked around the front and found out that the bug had gone clear across the street and bounced loudly off my neighbor’s metal garage door.

My neighbor was looking at the dead bug in his driveway and I asked him what that loud noise was. He told me that he was standing nearby watering his grass when this huge green bug smashed into his garage door, nearly scaring the crap out of him.

I said “Wow, that’s sure strange! Looks like suicide to me”. He agreed…LOL!

This might work well also for June Bugs and other assorted larger flying beetles. Maybe even those huge Filipino mosquitoes…

I was even thinking of buying one of those battery-powered electrocution rackets I saw in the hardware store and sending to the Philippines in our next balikbayan box. Does anyone know if those actually work on mosquitoes?

Anyway, I was just curious if I’m the only nut out there playing this dumb game?

Ray

[stevjulietb]

Ray,

You made me laugh out loud, AJ asked me if I was alright!  Can we see videos of you running around the backyard playing Bugminton?

Steveb

[Marshall K]

Those electric rackets are great!  I got one for ten bucks at a discount store, and I leave the screen door open so that I have something to swat.  It does kind of leave a burnt fly smell, though.
Those bugs of yours would definitely be the outdoor swatting only kind.  I haven't tried it with mosquitoes, but I bet it would work just fine.

[Bob_S]

Anyway, I was just curious if I’m the only nut out there playing this dumb game?

When I was a kid, we used to tie strings to june bugs we'd catch on peach trees.  You tie it between the head and thorax and drag it around as a flying pet.

Nothing like this though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6iYXLtUfAE

[Dave H]

Hey Ray,

A bug committing "suicide!" ROFLMAOCUMLPASIMMFD!!! I think 'bugminton' should become a new Olympic sport, along with high jumping the border fence back into Mexico. Maybe you could build a big enough racket to smack them back!



Here are a few electrified rackets, but I think it is probably overkill to zap them as well...but that sound, accompanied with a smoking, smelly, crispy critter does add to the appeal! Maybe you could electrify a badminton racket. I used to play a little 'bugminton' years when I used to play tennis and saw large bugs.

[Dave H]

I wanted to send one of those Mosquito Magnets over to the Philippines. People would probably complain that I am wasting 'gasul' (propane) and try to cook on it. 

[catz]

Couple of years back we had an influx of those big wood boring bumble bees. I had a great time playing baseball with them using my son's fat plastic baseball bat.

They have that nice "thunk" sound and a cool spiral as they whoosh away. The good ones would recover and come back for another round...

[Jeff S]

Hey Dave - Know why Mexico rarely wins any Olympic medals?
Because anyone who can run, jump or swim is already in the US.

And Ray - I saw one of those in HB this morning on my walk - sheesh bugzilla. Reminds me of Junior High in Illinois firefly hunting. The badminton racket got too easy so we switched to out Louisville Sluggers - AND you weren't allowed to hit them while they were switched on. You had to learn to anticipate in the dark - Great fun.

[Dave H]

Hey Jeff,

I'm thinking Mexico must be getting pretty empty and probably becoming a nice place to live. They have some very nice beaches, where you don't even need to wear a thong! 

Dave

[Dave H]

[Ray]

Those electric rackets are great!  I got one for ten bucks at a discount store, and I leave the screen door open so that I have something to swat.  It does kind of leave a burnt fly smell, though.

Burnt fly smell? ALL RIGHT! You convinced me.

I saw some recently at the local discount hardware store for $4.99. I think I'll get 2, one for each hand, and a couple more to send to the PI. The nephews and nieces should have a ball swatting those giant mosquitoes. I better send along a case of Duracells because those cheap Filipino batteries will probably only last about 10 seconds.

You really leave the screen open so you'll have something to swing at? I like your style Marshall!

I think the last of the peaches has fallen off my tree and now most of the beetles have moved on. Maybe I'll go down to the market and buy a bag of ripe peaches to hang up in my tree. I want see how those giant fruit beetles hold up under 1500 volts. Yummy, I can smell them suckers toasting now...

[Dave H]

Hey Dave - Know why Mexico rarely wins any Olympic medals?
Because anyone who can run, jump or swim is already in the US.

Hey Jeff,

ROFLMAOCUMMFL!!!

Along with winning the gold, silver, and bronze for 'Men's and Woman's Border Fence High Jump,' didn't Mexico win the gold, silver, and bronze for men's singles, ladies' singles, mixed pairs and mariachi, in 'Border Dash'?

Dave