The cricket fighting started far earlier than the Qing Dyansty, in fact. It initiated in the Tang Dynasty and became popular in the Song Dynasty. Ningjin County in Shandong Province was said to be the top produce are of top grade crickets. The lifespan of a flight cricket is around 100 days. There is fewer crickets after mid-October. So, the best fighting time is in autumn. Southern Song Dynasty was the most active and popular period in cricket flighting hisotry. The Manchu people liked this game gradually after they entered central China plain area. Hope this is helpful.