Page 89 - Devotion Among Animals Revealing the Work of God

Selfless Devotion of Creatures Within the Family

In Arizona's Sycamore Canyon, a male
giant water bug (Abedus herberti) carries its
eggs on his back. The eggs are stuck onto
his back by the female. This is another
species where the father cares for its off-
spring and it does his best to keep the eggs
well ventilated and moisturized. 78

The female giant water bug Belostoma (often found in swimming
pools) attaches her eggs with a sticky substance onto the male's back.
He swims on the surface, airing the eggs, pedaling backward and for-
ward with his hind legs, doing push-ups or holding onto a branch,
and sprinkles water onto the eggs for hours on end.
Three different species—Bledius rove beetles, Bembidion ground
beetles, and Heterocerus—all have an interesting method of prevent-
ing their eggs from drowning on tidal mudflats. They plug their nar-
row-necked brood chambers when the tide is coming in and unplug
them again when water recedes. 79
That even insects can show such foresight and protect their eggs
intelligently once again shows the clear reality of creation.

Devotion of the Wasp for Offspring It Will Never See
The digger wasp digs a slanting burrow for its larvae to grow in.

This is a difficult task for such a small creature, but the wasp first lifts
the soil with its jaw and then throws it behind with its front legs.
This wasp has another important ability: It digs its burrow with-
out leaving a trace around it. Trapping soil between its jaws, it re-
moves it bit by bit and deposits it at some distance away from the
burrow without forming piles anywhere, so as not to draw the atten-
tion of predatory insects.

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