Smart Bugs
Research has shown that insects are capable of learning and generalizing from their experiences, contradicting the long-held belief that they lack intelligence. In experiments with milkweed bugs and praying mantises, mantises learned to avoid milkweed bugs after having a bad experience with them.
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Just how smart are insects? The answer next on today's Creation moment. And now, here's our Creation Moments host, Ian Taylor.
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Can you teach an old insect, or even a young insect for that matter, any tricks at all? Science long assumed that insects were too stupid to learn even simple things. However, research has now proven that insects can not only learn, they can generalize knowledge into long-term lessons for life.
Researchers wanted to discover whether insects can learn through a bad experience to avoid certain bugs. So they offered milkweed bugs to preying mantises. Milkweed bugs that feed on milkweed accumulate the milkweed's poisons in their bodies. The mantises ate one bug, then vomited it up. Each mantis refused a second helping of milkweed bug. They even rejected bugs that were painted to look like the milkweed bugs.
A second test was run to test the response of praying mantises who had never had noxious milkweed bugs. The milkweed bugs that they were offered were raised on sunflower seeds so that they would have no poison accumulation in their bodies. These praying mantises ate the bugs without getting sick, and they continued eating the bugs when they were offered these tests. Mantises would only stop eating the bugs after they ate one that made them sick.
Learning from experience and later applying that knowledge to similar situations has always been considered a more advanced intellectual function. From the creation point of view, however, these abilities were given even to insects by the Creator because he knew that they would need them.
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For a free download of Mark Cadwalader's ebook Creation Spelled out for Us all, Visit us at creationmoments.com or call us toll free at 1-842-Bible. That's 1-800-422-4253.
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Featured Offer
Help the next generation overcome misconceptions about science and evolution and receive salvation. These tracts present astonishing evidence that God is our Creator, that the Bible is true, and that Jesus is the only way to inherit eternal life. Hand them out, leave them out, mail them out - however the Holy Spirit leads you! Order online or call us for discounts on large orders.
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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”.
Contact Creation Moments with Ian T. Taylor & Mark W. Cadwallader
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