The greatest insect victims of all time is the flea, which as early as 1833 has been harnessed with wire, attached to carts, and tortured with poisons in order to create the illusion of entertainment at flea circuses. Fleas live only for a short time and hence training of fleas on ongoing requirement. Fleas are trained not to jump by keeping them in a container with a lid. Once trained, they are harnessed by carefully wrapping a thin gold wire around the neck of the flea. Once in the harness, the fleas usually stay in it for life. The harnesses are attached to the props and the strong legs of the flea allows them to move objects significantly larger than themselves. Chemicals such as camphor that repels fleas are placed on lightweight balls and fleas kick them away, this makes the fleas look like they are juggling or playing football. There are historical reports of fleas glued to the base of the flea circus enclosure, instruments were then glued to the flea performers and the enclosure was heated. The fleas fought to escape giving the impression of fleas playing musical instruments. Famous flea circuses of the past include Maria Cardoso, who toured the world with her installation art flea circus on the 1990s, Professor Heckler’s flea circus (in residence at Hubert’s Dime Museum in Times Square, NY until 1957) which can be seen in the background of the film “Easy Rider.”
