Many people think insects are something to avoid, and the world would be better without them. But they are a part of God’s creation and do have an important part in the world. A study of some of their ways will reveal how the Creator has especially provided for them to be useful to people in many parts of the world.
Many desert insects are seldom seen because they search for food only at night. But in their search they often do useful things. For instance, in some of the dry desert areas they are a principal means of pollinating plants and trees. Joshua trees and yucca plants, both with such pretty blossoms, are examples of some that would have died out long ago if their pollen were not transferred from one tree or plant to another by these insects. This is true in many cultivated gardens and orchards as well.
Some insects are also a source of food for birds, toads, lizards, bats and other insects. An example is a long-legged insect that stands upright on its hind feet, with front legs folded against its body, called a praying mantis (it looks like it is praying). These feed on a wide variety of insects without doing any harm themselves and are effective pest controllers valued by many farmers.
Other examples of helpful insects include bees - the source of honey and wax. Silkworms, too, provide the silk threads to be sewn into pretty blouses or dresses. Silkworms are the larval stage of the bombyx mori moth.
Another insect that is a favorite with crop growers, and that is protected by many of them, is the frail lacewing. A pretty little thing with four transparent wings, it is valued by farmers who are pestered with aphids that get onto their plants and do much damage. Lacewings lay their eggs in places where aphids are active. When the larvae hatch, great numbers of aphids are a handy source of food for them. Because of this, wise farmers never intentionally kill any lacewings.
These are only a few of the interesting ways in which a wise Creator has given instincts to helpful little creatures. Those named here are a very small part of the vast number which are examples of His wondrous ways.
Although Adam’s sin brought troubled times into the world, yet God in His kindness has provided many reliefs from those troubles. The helpful little insects are one reminder of His marvelous ways mentioned in our opening Bible verse.
JULY 3, 1994
ML-07/03/1994