The Wonders of God’s Creation
Only about one-half inch long, the Lacewing is a pretty little fly with transparent wings in pale shades of green. It is a real friend to farmers.
When laying eggs, the female first deposits a spot of “glue” on a branch or stem of a bush. Before this hardens she flips her tail upward, producing a long threadlike stalk which she sets into the “glue.” The stalk quickly becomes tough and hard. She repeats this time after time until the bush looks like it had natural growths on it. She places an egg on the end of each stalk, spacing them far enough apart so they will not eat one another when they hatch, since they are vicious little things at that time.
In about a week the baby appears as a larva, looking like a little lizard. Cutting its way out of the egg, it slides down the smooth stalk, using its tail as a brake. The mother fly has arranged her nest of eggs close to aphids’ (plant lice) feeding grounds. These become food for the larvae for about two weeks; then it 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, in which it will go through a 12-day change.
While in the cocoon, it develops specially designed cutting jaws. Using these, it slices around the top of its cocoon, leaving a small section as a hinge and anchor post. Pushing the lid open, it crawls out and spins another thread on which it dangles from the anchor. Soon its veins fill with blood, the wings dry and it has become a full-grown lacewing. Now it returns to what it enjoys best—eating aphids for the rest of its life. As it does this, it becomes a friend to farmers by helping protect his crop from these harmful pests.
Isn’t it interesting to see how the mother lacewing makes such careful preparations for its little ones: first by making the eggs look like part of a plant, and then placing them where they will immediately find food when they come out of their eggs. It is another example of how God has given instincts to His creatures so they may fill out 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 has also given us a conscience to remind us we are sinners and need a Saviour. In addition, He has given us hearts and minds capable of receiving this Saviour, and it is through Him and His death on the cross that we can go to heaven. He tells us: “For 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-03/01/1981