Only about one-half inch long, the lacewing is a pretty little fly with two pairs of light-green, lacy wings. It is also called an aphid lion. We’ll soon learn why.
When laying eggs, the female first deposits a spot of glue on a stem of a plant or a leaf. Then she flips her tail upward, producing a small thread-like stalk which quickly dries. She repeats this time after time, until there are many stalks, and she lays one egg on the tip of each stalk. Spacing the eggs apart prevents the hungry, little larvae from eating each other after hatching.
In about a week, the larva hatches, cutting its way out of the egg. It looks somewhat like a tiny lizard. It slides down the smooth stalk, using its tail as a brake. The female lacewing has chosen the location for her eggs close to where aphids are feeding. These aphids and other harmful insects become food for the larva for about two weeks. Then the larva is ready for a change. Attaching itself to the underside of a leaf, it spins a thread of white silk, wrapping itself in a cocoon where it will go through a twelve-day change.
While in the cocoon, it develops specially designed cutting jaws which it uses to slice around the top of its cocoon. Pushing the lid open, the adult lacewing crawls out and spins another thread from which it dangles. Soon its wing veins fill with blood, the wings dry and it is ready for flight. Now it returns to what it enjoys best - eating aphids for the rest of its life. This is how it becomes a friend to gardeners and farmers.
Isn’t it interesting to see how the female lacewing makes such careful preparations for her young - first, by spacing the eggs apart so the larvae’s huge appetites don’t turn them into cannibals; then placing the eggs where the newly hatched larvae will immediately find food. It is another example of how God has given instincts to His creatures so that they may fill their part in His total plan of creation.
God’s ways with us are far more important than with these insects. He has given us superior intelligence so that we may see and know about Him and His wonders. He also has given us a conscience to remind us that we are sinners and need a Saviour. He also has given us hearts and minds capable of receiving this Saviour by faith, which is necessary for us to enter heaven. He tells us, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)).
Have you accepted this wonderful gift?
ML-01/11/2004