Evolution Can’t Digest This Fly
Conifers aren't bothered by too many insect pests. That's because the oils that give them that nice pine scent are poisonous. They would be poisonous to the conifer sawfly larva if it digested them, too. But while it munches the pine needles, its body is busy storing the poisonous oils for future defense. The fact that the sawfly not only eats pine needles, but also uses the poisonous oils for defense poses a difficult problem for evolution which appears to have no solution.
The sawfly larva's unique ability makes it a serious conifer pest both in North America and Europe. Part of the larva's secret is its digestive system. It separates the poisonous oils in the pine needles from the nutritious pulp. Then it regurgitates the poisonous oils and stores them in two special sacs in its mouth. These sacs are lined with a chitinous material that protects the rest of the mouth from the acidic, poisonous oils. When threatened by a spider or even a bird, the sawfly releases some of this bad-smelling oil in the direction of the threat. This strategy effectively convinces most aggressors to seek a meal somewhere else.
The problem for evolution is that these complicated structures and special abilities could not have developed in a gradual, step-by -step fashion as evolution demands. If the sawfly once did not originally eat pine needles, then how did it acquire the special ability to eat them and develop this special defense system? So, even this humble fly bears witness to its Creator.
Psalm 148:10-13
"Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.”
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be a better witness of Your love for me. Amen.
Ref: Creation Research Society, “Neodiprion (Sawfly)” Mark Stewart. Image: Diprion similis final instar larva, Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Mark W. Cadwallader: A fly that eats poison? Learn about it next on today's Creation Moment. And now, here's our Creation Moments host, Ian Taylor.
Ian T. Taylor: The conifer trees aren't bothered by too many insect pests. That's because the oils that give these trees that nice piney scent are poisonous. But they do have one pest: the conifer sawfly larva that actually eats the pine needles.
While it digests the pine needles, its body is busy using the poisonous oils for future defense. The fact that the sawfly not only eats pine needles but uses the poisonous oils for defense poses a difficult problem for evolution.
The sawfly larva's unique ability to eat the pine needles makes it a serious conifer pest both in North America and in Europe. Part of the larva's secret is in its digestive system. It separates the poisonous oils in the pine needles from the nutritious pulp.
Then, it regurgitates the poisonous oils and stores them in two special sacs in its mouth. These sacs are lined with chitinous material, which protects the rest of the mouth from the acidic poisonous oils. When threatened by a spider or even a bird, the sawfly releases some of this bad-smelling oil in the direction of the predator.
The problem for evolution is that these complicated structures and the special abilities could not have developed in a gradual, step-by-step fashion as evolution demands. For if, in its early evolution, the sawfly did not eat the pine needles, then how was it that it acquired the special ability to eat them and acquire this special defense system? So, even this humble fly bears witness to its Creator.
Mark W. Cadwallader: For a free copy of Ian Taylor's book, 25 Short Answers to Big Questions about Creation, visit us at creationmoments.com or call us toll-free at 1-800-42-BIBLE. And be sure to join us next time for another Creation Moment.
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Enjoy this thorough but user-friendly rebuttal of the foundation of the secularist worldview. In eight easy-to-follow chapters, applied scientist and Creation Moments Board Chairman Mark Cadwallader covers with fresh insights such topics as the amazing complexity of life, entropy, fossils, information technology, a worldwide flood, and the assumptions that lead evolutionists astray.
Featured Offer
Enjoy this thorough but user-friendly rebuttal of the foundation of the secularist worldview. In eight easy-to-follow chapters, applied scientist and Creation Moments Board Chairman Mark Cadwallader covers with fresh insights such topics as the amazing complexity of life, entropy, fossils, information technology, a worldwide flood, and the assumptions that lead evolutionists astray.
About Creation Moments
Founded in 1963, Creation Moments remains committed to building up the Church and enlightening the world to the wonders of God's creation. For more than sixty years, this ministry has proclaimed the truth of biblical creation and provided irrefutable evidence that the Bible can be trusted from the very first verse to the last. In addition to its international creation-evangelism and radio outreach, Creation Moments offers hundreds of free resources on the Bible and science at its website: CreationMoments.com.
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About Ian T. Taylor & Mark W. Cadwallader
Ian T. Taylor
For most people, Ian Taylor will always be the voice of Creation Moments. He was born in the UK and lived in Canada until his passing. We were honored and blessed to have such a wonderful and dedicated creationist as part our ministry for so many years. Even now, his radio broadcast programs endure to reach others with the message about the awesome and intricate creation of an awesome and loving God.
Mark W. Cadwallader
Mark is Board Chairman of Creation Moments and has served on the Board since 1996. He holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston and has worked as an applied materials scientist and engineer in plastics, specialty chemicals, oil additives, and pollution control for over 30 years. Mark credits the ministry for opening his faith as a young man to the unerring credibility of the Bible in all areas including science, and thus helping to transform his life. Mark has published over 100 articles and conference papers in his scientific field of expertise as well as in Creation Science and apologetics. He writes the Creation Moments monthly newsletter as well as most of the blog articles posted on the ministry’s website. He has also authored books, including “Creation Spelled Out for Us All” and “The Beauty of Truth”.
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