“And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.”
Genesis 3:1717And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; (Genesis 3:17)
The week of constant rain has formed pools of water in low spots. It has collected in the bottom of an old tire leaning against a tree and in empty cans along the roadside. What does this have to do with mosquitoes? Standing water is where mosquitoes lay their eggs.
It only takes a day or two for a mosquito egg to hatch into a wriggler. It has a head on one end and a siphon for breathing on the other. It immediately begins to wriggle from the bottom of its watery home to the top. It takes in air with its siphon, then drops back to the bottom and repeats this cycle over and over. A wriggler eats small plants and small animals that live in the water.
After about a week a wriggler changes into a thin-shelled pupa, also called a tumbler because it rolls and tumbles in the water. It does not eat. In two to four days it is ready to shed its skin and become a fully developed adult. While in the pupa stage it develops a breathing system that looks like tiny portholes along its body.
Rising to the surface, the skin on the pupa’s back splits open. It then pumps air into its body through the portholes, which causes it to expand, making the opening wider. It soon pushes its head and front legs out, then pulls the rest of its body from the shell. The veins of its wings expand and open. It rests for a day on its floating shell, allowing its newly exposed body to harden. Then it takes off with the familiar hum of its wings. Another marvel of God’s creation has been completed!
But not all eggs become mosquitoes. Many wrigglers become food for fish, ducks, frogs, turtles and other creatures. In Alaska young salmon eat them by the millions.
The male mosquito lives on nectar, fruit juices or sap. Only the female seeks the blood of humans and animals. Inside her dagger-like beak, called a proboscis, are six needlelike stylets that stab into the skin to sip enough blood to satisfy her appetite.
Certainly mosquitoes are not liked by man or beast, but God has provided these remarkable little creatures to fulfill a place in the chain of life. The swelling and itch of a mosquito bite are reminders that sin has left its mark on all creation, marring it in many ways. Its loveliness will not be restored until a time to come when the Bible says the Lord Jesus Christ shall be acknowledged as “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:1515Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (1 Timothy 6:15)).
Before that time all who have accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour will be called to heaven where He lives and where no sin will ever mar its wonders or the joy of those who are there. Will you be there?
JULY 6, 1997
ML-07/06/1997