Trick Review: Lady Bug

Here’s a fresh, shocking and stunning effect. You bring the crowd in close, open a small pocket knife, pierce a fingertip and then squeeze out a single drop of blood. You press on the drop of blood with your fingers, which to the crowd’s surprise, turns into a living, breathing ladybug. Yes, the ladybug is real and alive and can actually fly away at the end of the trick.

The trick comes with a gimmicked Swiss Army style knife and various props. You’ll have to catch your own ladybugs or order them through the internet (they’re not expensive and according to the trick’s authors, will last for a month in your refrigerator hibernating and require no feeding or care). An enclosed DVD shows how to use the props and offers thorough instructions on how to perform the trick.

If you don’t want to produce a ladybug, there’s a variation that’s explained on the DVD that shows how to appear to puncture your finger with the knife and produce a drop of blood. And at the end, the drop of blood disappears and your finger is completely healed without a mark. If you like, you can also cause the drop of blood to turn into tiny objects. Here, the DVD suggests a tiny heart.

The DVD also offers several variations on the handling. You’re free to pick and choose the one that works best for you.

The trick is not hard to perform but takes practice. The setup is probably as challenging at first as the trick itself. The knife is brilliantly gimmicked to perform the trick. It along with the secret are worth the effect’s relatively high price.

The angles on this effect are quite good-you can perform it in the midst of a crowd. The only downside is that the lady bug is tiny so the effect is only practical when performing for small groups, probably eight people or less who can crowd around you. Of course, because of the knife and blood, you’ll want to choose your audiences carefully.

The trick uses a knife so there is some danger involved. But performed correctly, you don’t actually pierce your flesh and the lady bug is not harmed.

I think that this effect that was developed by Paul Vigil, Paul Harris and Roy Kueppers is brilliant. It’s a shocker with a fresh magic premise, and the handling, props and DVD are first rate to help you accomplish and perform the effect.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto

MSRP: (US) $99

Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.