Aphid’s Clever Defenses

Job 39:26
“Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?”

Aphids are tiny creatures that are often tended – even protected – by ants. Like many creatures, aphids provide a wonderful testimony to God’s ability to create endless variations on a theme.

Aphids come in many different colors: white, red, green and yellow. Aphids look defenseless. Instead of relying on teeth or stingers, aphids rely on cleverness to protect themselves. Aphids have two spikes on their backs. These spikes are not for stinging, but for gluing. Ladybugs love to eat aphids. If a ladybug tries to eat the aphid, the aphid tries to position its spikes to glue the mouth of the hungry ladybug closed. Aphids that are not protected by ants have longer, more effective spikes.

Perhaps the most clever strategy aphids use to protect themselves is the “aphid kick.” When a group of aphids sitting on a plant feel threatened, they will kick their hind legs in unison. This seems to make the would-be predator think that something bigger is after him! But who organizes the aphids?

Nothing the Creator has made is unimportant. The simple fact that He created something means that it must be important to Him. You can be thankful that no matter what other people may think of you, God has made you – and that makes you important to Him. More than that, He loves His creation.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have made me. Do not allow me to separate myself from You by neglecting to read and study Your Word of Life, wherein I learn of my salvation. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Notes:
Joanne E. DeJonge. Bats and Bugs and Snakes and Slugs. Baker Book House, pp. 38-39. Photo: Aphid excreting defensive fluid from the cornicles. Courtesy of Sanjay Acharya. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2.