Many books have been written about the unusual features of the world’s 600,000 varieties of insects. Approximately a third of the insects are beetles, some of which have unusual habits. We have already written in other articles about the living bomb, the sexton beetle, and the ladybug. Here’s another example: The beetle that eats cork, glue, mustard plasters and certain medicines is called the drugstore beetle. Some unusual beetles have unusual names.
There are other unusual insects besides beetles. One of the most beautiful insects is the morpho butterfly, which is covered with a million tiny, colored scales on each wing. Another unusual insect is the water strider that skims over water—its middle legs work like oars, the hind legs act like rudders, and the front legs are free to catch its prey. It has been given air-filled “shoes” made of hair that allow it to float.
Another resident of ponds is the brown water bug. This one grasps other water insects in a hug of death while its sharp beak draws out the victim’s blood. When the female is ready to lay her legs, she grips her mate tightly and glues the eggs onto his back. Then she leaves him to incubate them in the sun for many days, until the young hatch.
God has made some insects experts at camouflage. The ambush bug is so well hidden by its green and yellow colors that it cannot be seen until it moves. The dead-leaf butterfly is easily seen when flying, but it looks like a dead leaf when resting. The long-horned grasshopper has wings that look like leaves that have been partly eaten away. There is one variety of the walking stick which has a green-brown body with red, thorn-like growths that make it look like part of a bramble bush.
Certainly insects are among “the weak things of the world” that confound “the mighty.” How good to know that “God made . . . everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:2525And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:25)). Each one was given every perfect detail at the moment He created it.
He had a much greater joy when He brought mankind into the world, for He had His heart of love set on each of us even before the world was made! How sad that many have not responded to that love nor realized that their sins made it necessary for the Savior to die on Calvary. There He bore the sins of all who will admit their guilt and put their trust in Him. How wonderful of God to provide such a way of salvation! Have you accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus, as your Savior?
ML-08/26/2018