Jewel # 155 (Nov 16, 2013)

Glass Winged butterfly                           Drone Flies

Robber Fly                                     Oxybellis                        

Oriental Praying Mantis                                      Crab Spiders

Arizona Fly

"And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord

of hosts, in that day when I

make up MY JEWELS."

Malachi 3:17

To my dear grandchildren,

Hide-and-Seek in Nature (Part 2)

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed;

For the Lord thy God is with thee."

(Joshua 1:9)

In the last issue, examples of some insects' abilities to hide from enemies by their camouflage were described.  We could never include all of them, but here are a few more.

Many large moths have "painted" eyes on their back wings that frighten birds away, while others look just like the bark of the trees on which on which they rest.  A butterfly, known as the glass-winged butterfly, is so transparent that a predator sees only the flower or leaf that this butterfly is resting on.

Drone flies buzz and look so much like bees they even fool the members of a beehive, while the robber fly, also looking like a bumblebee, is avoided by the birds.

In South America, a four-foot snake with a thick body, the oxybellis, is coloured like the vines around which it climbs.  If frightened, it "freezes" even if part of it hangs away from the vine.  If a breeze stirs the vine, the snake sways its entire body to match the vine's movements.

Instead of spinning a web to catch insects, the crab-spider catches them on the petals of flowers where it is overlooked because its colour matches the flower's - white, black, red or pink.  The Oriental praying mantis does something similar.  With colorful legs held upright while sitting in a bush, it fools and traps insects that think it is a flower petal.

A fly in Arizona has transparent wings, except for three heavy black stripes across each side.  At rest with wings partly open, the stripes, seen from the back, look like the legs of a huge spider.  Also on the back of its orange body are spots that look like huge black eyes.  Predators that would go after a fly, seeing what looks like a fierce spider, leave it alone.

Most of us have noticed that caterpillars and small worms on flowers or plants turn the same colour as what they are eating, making it very difficult to spot them even up close.  Some caterpillars eat 27,000 times their body weight before becoming an adult.

Many poisonous or distasteful insects are coloured bright red and black.  These don't need camouflage because birds learn to leave them alone.  Many harmless insects have similar colouring, and birds avoid them as well.

All this is a reminder of the wonders of God's creation.  None of these creatures is aware that it has these markings, but God-given instincts enable them to use them as they do.  Mankind does not need such devices, as God has given us intelligence to avoid our enemies.  The knowledge of His love and care should cause us to give Him our thanks, as expressed in the Bible verse: "Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for His mercy endureth forever" (Jeremiah 33:11).  

In the NEXT issue we will review some creatures besides insects that benefit by God-given disguises.

Love you all,

Grandpa

Jewel # 154 (Nov 13, 2013)

Katydide    Leafhopper

Walking Stick Bug  Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

To my dear grandchildren

Hide-and-Seek in Nature (Part 1)

"I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me, O God . . .

Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings."

(Psalm 17:6,8)

Boys and girls always find the game of "hide-and-seek" fun to play, but for many creatures in nature, it is a very important way of staying alive!  For many little insects, the threat of being eaten by hungry, prowling enemies is greatly reduced by the God-given skills to look like something else. This is called camouflage.  Let's look at some examples.

Katydids (grasshopper-like insects) of Central and South America are among the most amazing.  Some have shapes and colouring exactly like the leaves on which they feed.  The wings of others look like big bites have been taken out of them, exactly like some leaves around them.  So even though fully exposed, they are actually hidden.  Some are coloured green, others brown, tan or mixed colours, each matching the plant or tree leaves on which it feeds.  And so they are protected from birds, monkeys and larger insects that would eat them.  A katydid's ears are on its front legs.

Leafhoppers, which are found in many countries, have backs shaped exactly like the thorns on plants around them.  They are completely safe from their enemies until they move.

In India, the Indian leaf bug, which is the same shade of green as the leaves on which it feeds, rocks back and forth like a leaf when the wind blows.  This helps to fool its enemies.

Then there is the caterpillar of the sphinx moth, which frightens an attacker by suddenly blowing up the end of its short body to look like the dark-blue head of a pit-viper snake and swaying it back and forth.  The snake-like look is so realistic, with two imitation, big, black, gleaming "eyes" above a pointed snout and mouth, that the attacker changes its mind and "escapes" as quickly as possible.

Another odd-looking creature is know as the walking stick, which eats tiny bugs on smooth branches of a tree or bush.  When it holds perfectly still, it looks just like a twig.  A bird might perch right next to it and never guess it is passing up a meal.  These insects do not move until it is dark.  This is when they start feeding.  Most are brown or green, and some can change their colour to match what they are resting on.  They have no wings.

How did these unusual insects (and many more) learn these protective camouflages?  Did they get together and decide what would work?  Of course not; insects can't do that.  Only their Creator could give them the ability of camouflage through all their generations.   This shows us another example of His care over all His creatures.

We will look at more examples of God-given camouflages to protect His creatures in our next letter. 

Love you all,

Grandpa  

Jewel # 153 (Nov 6, 2013)

To my dear grandchildren

Scars

"Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

(Ephesians 4:32)

Many years ago, a farmer had a son he dearly loved.  But that young boy had developed quite a bad temper.  Scoldings, warnings, even punishments did not seem to have success in changing the boy's temper outbursts.  One day, after much prayer, the boy's father gave him a bag of nails.  Every time the boy lost his temper, his father told him, he would have to hammer one of the nails into the wooden fence at the back of of their yard.  The first day of this punishment the boy had to hammer 14 nails into into that fence.

But slowly, day by day, the boy found that he hammered less nails into the fence.  He had discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence's hard wood.  The nailing continued for some time, but the day finally came when the little boy didn't lose his temper at all.  He excitedly told his father that evening.  Dad wisely told him that now, each day he held his temper he could pull out one nail from the fence.

The days passed and the little boy worked very hard and was careful about his temper.  Eventually the time came when he ran excitedly to his dad telling him that there were no longer any nails in the fence.  

That particular day, he had removed the last one.  Smiling, Dad took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.

When they reached the fence he looked lovingly at his son and said to him; "You've really done well and I'm very happy for you.  But I want you to look carefully at something in the fence".

The boy stared intently at the fence where he had nailed so many nail.  His Dad said, "Look at the holes in the fence.  It will never be the same because the nail holes will always mark its surface.  Remember son, when you lose your temper and say things in anger, they leave scars just like these nails did.  You can apologize for your angry words and actions, but never forget; it won't matter how many times you say "I'm sorry", the scar will still be there".  

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, 

be put away from you, with all malice."

(Ephesians 4:31

Love you all,

Grandpa

Jewel # 152 (Oct 29, 2013)

   

"And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts,

in that day when I make up MY JEWELS."

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

Never Tease a Moose

"Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring" (Joel 2:22). 

One of the largest animals of North America is the moose.  It is found mainly in Alaska and in many areas of Canada and the northern parts of the United States and also in Scandinavia and Russia.  It is a solitary animal and does not form herds.  The moose prefers areas with lakes, rivers and pastures with ample food, as the Creator has promised in the Bible verse above.  

It finds some food in chest-deep water, dunking its head under to pull plants out by the roots.  Moose don't have any upper front teeth.

The bull moose of Alaska is the largest and boldest, weighing almost 2000 pounds and having shoulders as high as 8 feet.  Its huge size, plus big antlers, make an impressive sight, and it is very bold.  It will not hesitate to charge a truck or slow-moving train that annoys it - sometimes knocking the annoyance off the highway or railroad track.  

It is easy to see why a moose is seldom attacked, although a calf or a sick or old one might become the victim of a bear or a wolf pack.  However, if an enemy makes the mistake of attacking an adult moose, it may pay for the mistake with its life.  One kick from a moose's sharp hooves can crush a skull or break or cripple a leg.  The big antlers are equally dangerous.

The dark -brown moose is not a pretty animal.  It has a hump on its back, and a baggy muzzle with another loose fold of skin at its throat, called a dewlap, marks its long face.  Add its massive crown of antlers, and it presents a mighty awesome appearance.

While it may seem cumbersome to us, the moose is one of God's creatures:  "Every beast of the forest is Mine. . . . And the wild beasts of the field are Mine" (Psalm 50:10-11).  It is the divine Creator who has given it such strength and ability to survive in harsh, cold winters and who also provided it with large split hooves and broad feet for easy walking on marshy ground and through snowdrifts.  He knew what their needs would be when He created them and included four-foot-long legs and strong muscles, so they can run at a speed of 35 miles an hour.  The Creator  has also given them colouring that blends with their surroundings, making them usually well hidden from enemies.  Of course, no animal is aware of the One who created and preserves it, but how about us humans?  There is a real difference, for we have the ability to know the Lord God and all He has done and is still doing for us.

The psalmist wrote, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:8).  Have you ever thanked or praised Him?          

Love you all,

Grandpa

Jewel # 151 (Oct 24, 2013)

         

To my dear grandchildren

The Unlovely Crow

"God giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry" (Psalm 147:9).

The Bible does not mention crows by name, but it mentions "every raven after his kind" (Leviticus 11:15).  Both ravens and crows are in the same bird family - they are like cousins.  So our opening verse assures us that the Creator cares for crows and even hears the cries of their young.

When fully grown, these glossy, black birds are big.  They weigh about 3 pounds and are 18 or 19 inches long.  Always hungry, they eat just about anything they can swallow, including mice, grubs, eggs, even small birds and small dead animals.  Farmers dislike them because they pull up sprouting corn and other grains and eat them.

It is no secret to those living near crows that they do not hesitate to announce their presence with loud, annoying "caws," especially just after sunrise.  In spite of this unpleasant habit, they are very intelligent birds and can easily be tamed as pets.  Captive crows quickly learn tricks and can even be taught to talk as clearly as parrots do.  Crows are the only birds that can use tools.  They are clever in imitating other bird sounds too.

Spotting a lone owl trying to hide in a tree, a group of crows will come together with loud raucous cawing and gang up to chase the owl out of the area.  However, they know better than to get close to its sharp beak and talons.  Crows have another annoying trick, which is to snatch a hooked fish off the end of a fisherman's line  before he can reel it in.

Crows' nests are easy to see, as they are large, bulky nests high in treetops.  The female lays four to six blue-green eggs with blotches of brown or gray.

No bird is disliked more than the crow.  Yet in spite of efforts to reduce their numbers, they continually increase.  They are now protected by law in many places, because of the tremendous quantity of harmful insects and small rodents they eat.     

It is understandable that crows may not appeal to many people, but they are part of God's creation.  He has provided their unusual instincts and cleverness so they can perform their part of HIs purposes in the bird world.

The Bible tells us that every living creature is in the hands of the Lord.  It is good to learn of His care over all things, even crows, but it is especially important to know that He sees and cares for every boy and girl and every grown-up:  "His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He sees all his goings" (Job 34:21).  He tells us that He also thinks kindly about us: "I know the thoughts that I think toward you . . . thoughts of peace, and not of evil" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Do you know this kind and loving Saviour personally?

Love you all

Grandpa

Jewel # 150 (Oct 18, 2013)

           

  

To my dear grandchildren, 

The Hardy Musk-Ox

"I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power."

(Jeremiah 27:5)

The 4- to 5-foot high, 900-pound musk-ox is not really an ox.  It looks more like a water buffalo or a big ram.  The Eskimos have their own name for it "oomingmak," which means "the bearded one."

Not many creatures could survive in the musk-oxen's harsh North American Arctic homeland, but when it pleased the Creator to place them there He gave them special features to survive.  One feature is their long, shaggy dark-brown coat that covers their entire bodies, right down to their  hooves.  During winter months an additional covering of soft, downy wool grows under the heavy outer coat, but when warmer weather returns, this drops off, leaving just the coarse outer covering to keep them comfortable.

An important feature to protect them from wolves and polar bears is a pair of massive horns that curve down the side of their heads and then turn upward with sharp points.  As they follow their God-given instinct to stay together in herds of a dozen or more, they can make a united resistance when attacked.  They do this by forming a circle, faces turned outward and horns lowered in warning.  It would be a foolish enemy that would tackle such a determined group.

The Creator also gave them sharp, curved hooves with soft pads for traveling across the tundra and over rocky mountain slopes.  With these hooves and the help of their strong horns, they dig in the tundra for hidden plants and in winter paw and toss the snow away to expose this food.  Musk-oxen swallow their food without chewing.

Many of the herds prefer to spend the winter among the high peaks of the cold Arctic area (where temperatures often reach more than 50 degrees below zero), because the strong winds of the mountains expose the lichens and moss they eat.  In warmer weather they return to lower areas where grass, willows, flowers and water are again plentiful.

Incidentally, calves stand on their feet immediately after birth and can keep up with the herd just a few hours later.  They grow quickly and reach full size in five or six years.

As we notice the special features the musk-ox has been given, we remember the Bible verse that says, "God that made the world and all things therein . . . giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:24-25).  May each of us respond to the care and love our Creator shows us in even greater measure than He does to animals and trust in Him as the prophet Isaiah did when he wrote, "O Lord, Thou art  my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things" (Isaiah 25:1)  The Lord God loves to hear the praise and thanks of those who trust Him.  Do you thank Him daily?  

Love you all, 

Grandpa  

Jewel # 149 (Oct 10, 2013)

     

To my dear grandchildren,

The Swift Cheetah

"Every beast of the forest is Mine . . . and 

the wild beasts of the field are Mine."

(Psalm 50:10-11)

The cheetah, a member of the cat family, lives on the plains of Africa and Asia and is the fastest animal known for running short distances.  When hunting, it takes advantage of all available cover and crawls on the ground to get as close as possible to its prey.  Then, with tail twitching, it suddenly springs up and runs with lighting speed, 70 to 75 miles per hour (112 to 120 km/h, scarcely touching the ground between its 10-foot leaps.  It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in three seconds, enabling it to catch its prey almost immediately.

The Creator has provided the cheetah with large nostrils and lungs to draw in great quantities of air while running so fast.  However, it cannot run at top speed for very long, and if it fails to capture its prey promptly, it must give up and rest.  Even if it succeeds, it needs to rest for a while, breathing deeply before eating.

This beautiful animal has a small head with large, yellow-green eyes and dark tear markings running from the inner corners of its eyes.  Its fur is yellowish with black spots over all its body except the throat.  Its long, lean body measures about 3 feet high at the shoulders and about 5 feet long.  Its long, striped tail adds another 2 1/2 feet.  Did you know that cheetah's use their tails to steer while running

The cheetah's natural home is in open grasslands.  Given excellent eyesight, it spots antelopes, elands and other animals from a tree branch, bare hilltops or even a termite mound.  Another special, God-given feature enables the cheetah to go several days without water.

Female cheetahs may have three or more cubs a year.  The little ones are playful, stalking and pawing each other.  In the hot sun they huddle close to their mother for protection from the heat and for safety from enemies.  They are nursed for several months and then trained to hunt.   Cubs leave their mother when they are between 13 and 20 months old.  A cheetah's life span is up to 12 years in the wild and 20 years in captivity.

Again we are reminded, as in our opening Bible verse, that the One who can rightfully claim every beast of the forest and field as His does not neglect these creatures.  Through their whole lifetime they are under His watchful care, and He can see them just as He can see each of us even on the darkest night.

Sin that came into the world is responsible for animals such as the cheetah killing others.  But the time is coming when there will be peace again among all the beasts.  At that time those who accept the Lord Jesus Christ now as their Saviour will be with Him in heaven, looking down on that peaceful scene.  Will you be there?

Love you all,

Grandpa