Termite Assassin
The assassin bug camouflages itself with termite nest material and lures its prey using dead termites as bait. This complex, strategic behavior is unique and intelligent.
Jonathan Cotton: How does the assassin bug outsmart a termite? The answer next on today's Creation Moment. And now, here's our Creation Moment host, Ian Taylor.
Ian T. Taylor: The assassin bug uses a combination of camouflage and baiting, which is totally unknown in any other creature. The assassin bug glues bits of termite nest to himself using fluid from special glands in his body. This termite nest material is his camouflage as he performs his work at the nest. But by the time he is done, no part of his body will be showing. Sneaking unnoticed to an opening in the nest, the assassin bug waits for some hapless termite to come by. Having captured his first victim and drained it of body fluids, the assassin bug now takes his victim and waves it near the nest opening.
Seeing the corpse, a worker moves forward, and as he does so, the assassin bug slowly draws his bait back, luring the worker further from the protection of the nest. Suddenly, the assassin bug grabs his new victim and discards the old one. Victim number two will become bait for victim number three. In one such operation, researchers watched as one assassin bug continued this for three hours, killing 31 termites. The gruesome way in which the assassin bug makes his living demonstrates a great deal of intelligence. The assassin bug is yet another example of the fact that intelligence doesn't have anything to do with evolution.
Rather, it is a gift of the creator to his creatures.
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Featured Offer
In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, Mark Cadwallader brings a curated and updated collection of his essays, including new ones, celebrating the important principles of freedom that still echo from the Garden of Eden today. God is not looking for robots, programmed to serve and obey Him. He wants us free!
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 & Jonathan Cotton
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.
Jonathan Cotton
Jonathan Cotton is a veteran voice artist, Worship Pastor, and former “professional prodigal” rescued from the streets in 1996 by the voice of God the Father. Jonathan pairs decades of refined craft with a passion for discipleship. He and his wife—a Children’s Ministry Director—are raising five children centered on hearing and obeying God's voice. Behind the microphone, Jonathan trusts the Holy Spirit to bridge every cultural divide, guiding listeners past design alone and directly to the caring heart of the Father.
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