Jewel # 399 (April 16, 2020)

    

Mealybug destroyer                       El Formosa Wasp 

Lady Bug

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

Are There Really Any Good Bugs?

“Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee . . . or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee.”  
Job 12:7-8  

The answer to our question about good bugs is a definite YES!  There are many kinds of insects that are beneficial.  And one way in which they do good is by killing and eating certain other insects that are harmful.  Much of this we are not aware of, because it goes on so quietly and in places we are not likely to visit.

One good insect is called the mealybug destroyer.  It makes its home in certain plants and trees where mealybugs do lots of damage by boring into plant stems.  It eats the sap that is as important to the plant as blood is to an animal.  The mealybug destroyer does a tremendous amount of good.

Another good one in the garden is the lacewing.  This is a pretty little green creature with delicate lace-like wings and a pair of long “feelers” located in front of brilliant eyes.  Possibly some of us have killed these with insect spray without realizing they are good helpers.  They eat countless destructive aphids and other harmful bugs.  

A little wasp by the name of El Formosa has a special appetite for whiteflies, which are harmful insects that do tremendous  damage to all kinds of plants and trees.  Some garden stores sell these beneficial wasps when whiteflies are particularly troublesome, and gardeners use large quantities of them to help fight these pests.

Ladybugs are probably know by most of us as good helpers in gardens.  We should be careful to treat them kindly, and be thankful if you see some on your plants and flowers.

While many snails are harmful in gardens, there are some helpful ones.  One of these is the Decollate variety, marked with a pretty corkscrew tail.  Its principal food is the harmful common garden snail.

Then there is the praying mantis that feeds on many harmful insects and a beetle by the name of seven-spot that eats aphids.  Many farmers purchase them in large quantities from garden stores every year.

Of course, we all know the value of the honey from bees and silk threads from silkworms.  Altogether there are more that 600 “good bugs” that farmers and plant nurseries use to help fight a continual war against harmful bugs.

These harmful insects remind us of what sin has brought into the world.  The good insects speak of the Creator’s wisdom in providing ways to overcome the bad.  It should make us think of the love and grace of God in providing a way for boys, girls and grown-ups to overcome their sins.  God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, into the world to bear the sins of all who will trust in Him as their Saviour through His death on Calvary’s cross.

Have you let Him wash away your sins?

Love you all - Grandpa