Unknown to most of us, there are insects that produce acids used in important medicines. Among these are some beetles that we would just consider a nuisance. The bombardier beetle, for instance, surprises creatures that attack it by “bombing” them with a white spray forced through a gland in its tail. It leaves a terrible smell on the animal, bird, or person on whom it is sprayed. Experiments are being made with samples of this spray for use in medicines.
Another, known as the diving beetle, spends much time in water and gives off a dose of cortisone when a hungry fish comes too close, and the fish decides to get away in a hurry. Doctors frequently give patients cortisone to cure certain sicknesses, and it is expensive. Experiments are being made to see if they can raise these beetles in large numbers and get cortisone supplies from them.
A medicine called Spanish Fly as well as cyanide and steroids are all contributed by a variety of insects. Medical researchers believe other medicines remain to be discovered, particularly from insects in hot tropical countries.
A pretty little bird with a red body, blue wings and a black head with a white face is called the white-faced anteater of Central and South America. It eats huge quantities of ants and other harmful insects.
And there are beneficial insects that eat insects that we consider harmful. One of the most common of the beneficial ones is the ladybug. It eats aphids and other pests that do so much harm to garden flowers. Ladybugs don’t look much like a beetle, but are closely related to them.
Honeybees are another example of a creature providing some good. Most of us consider honey a very nice treat.
Then there are many very small creatures which can only be seen through a microscope - such as microbes and bacteria, which are used by the Creator to do much good. Some produce a form of alcohol, others make acids and chemicals that are used in many industries. Researchers are making serious efforts to find how these can become important sources of these products.
In our opening Bible verse we are told that God saw that the creation of “every creeping thing” was good. Sin has come into the world to interfere with this good. However, the work done by researchers has found real benefits for all mankind.
These creatures didn’t just happen to “evolve” over a long period of time. They are another example of the wonders of God’s creation. Let us never forget that “all things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:33All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3).
FEBRUARY 20, 1994
ML-02/20/1994