# Remember Using A Magnifying Glass to Burn Bugs?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [March 28, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540 "2005-03-28T02:40:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/1 "2005-03-28T02:40:13Z")
[Well, now you can do it with a city of people!](http://www.ebaumsworld.com/antcity.html) The “game” ends when you blow up the tanker truck.
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### Author:  [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/2 "2005-03-28T02:59:34Z")
I used a fresnel lens.
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/3 "2005-03-28T03:03:19Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#):
>
> I used a fresnel lens.
Didja have one of those giant ones that could also melt asphalt in seconds?
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/4 "2005-03-28T04:26:48Z")
Dude, that’s sick!
Thanks! 😃
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### Author:  [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/5 "2005-03-28T04:53:24Z")
I’m ashamed to say that I did toast a few insects when I was a kid.
I called my utensil a “maggot-frying glass.”
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### Author:  [@pestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pestie)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/6 "2005-03-28T18:17:56Z")
Speaking as one who, as a kid, regularly lusted for things in the Edmund Scientific catalog: I _so_ badly wanted one of those melt-asphalt-in-seconds fresnel lenses! I still do! I’ve heard they can be salvaged from rear-projection TV screens. Maybe the local dump can help me out here.
The closest I ever got was a sheet magnifier about 8"x12" or so. It didn’t melt asphalt, but it would ignite nearly anything flammable almost instantaneously. T’hell with frying ants - with something like that you could fry _badgers_.
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### Author:  [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/7 "2005-03-28T18:33:06Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#):
>
> Didja have one of those giant ones that could also melt asphalt in seconds?
It was about 8" across.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/8 "2005-03-28T18:33:57Z")
I remember using a magnifying lense to “write” things on a tennis ball. You could burn the fuzz right off.
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/9 "2005-03-28T18:36:13Z")
We didn’t have fire ants back then… so we made our own.
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### Author:  [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/10 "2005-03-28T18:40:33Z")
Ants give off a yummy roasted coconut scent, when burnt.
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### Author:  [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-using-a-magnifying-glass-to-burn-bugs/296540/11 "2005-03-28T18:53:34Z")
Ahhh, few things more entertaining than vaporizing ants on a really hot day.