BEIJING, June 23 (RIA Novosti) - A Chinese inventor has sent his patented ultrasonic flycatcher to U.S. President Barack Obama as a present, Xinhua reported on Tuesday.

Obama swatted a fly during a television interview earlier this month, attracting widespread media attention and a critical statement from the animal rights group People for the Ethnic Treatment of Animals (PETA).

"That was pretty impressive, wasn't it? I got the sucker," the president said as the vanquished insect lay on the carpet.

Hu Xilin, known as "Lord of the Flycatchers" in China, said he had sent the device to the U.S. president through PETA.

"It is not hygienic for President Obama to swat a fly with his hand. The machine can catch the insect alive automatically," said Xilin was quoted as saying by the news agency.

The invention, which was patented in 2007, has a motor and can catch bugs with organic bait and an ultraviolet lamp, Xinhua said.

The Chinese businessman has also sent his flycatchers to Japan, Vietnam and the Democratic Republic of Congo.