Creation Moments

Announcer: Can trees defend themselves? Find out on today's Creation Moments. And now here's our Creation Moments host, Ian Taylor.

Ian T. Taylor: A gypsy moth caterpillar infestation can strip the leaves from a large number of trees, threatening the trees' lives. Since they don't have a means of escape, it doesn't seem as if the poor trees have much of a chance. Botanists were tipped off to the possibility that trees may not be all that defenseless when they begin to investigate why only a few trees were badly damaged by insects in an infected grove, while most stood unharmed. They learned that when facing a threat like gypsy moth caterpillars, trees begin to defend themselves by sounding the alarm. A large variety of trees, including beeches, poplars, sugar maples, and red oaks, communicate with each other.

Scientists believe that the trees communicate by releasing a chemical called femarones into the air. What they now know is that before insects attacking one tree can get to the tree next door, the second tree has already begun defending itself. How do they defend themselves? Well, when under attack or notified by other trees of attack, most trees begin to manufacture an array of poisons. Some of the poisons make leaves impossible to digest, while others kill the insects outright. Some make as many as 8 poisons at once, and many can change the poisons that are made from year to year. Our creator's concern for living things extends even to plants.

If he sees to this detailed level of care for trees, can there be in our lives that are too small for his loving concern?

Jonathan Cotton: 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 1-800-42-Bible. That's 1-800-422-4253. And be sure to join us next time for another Creation Moment.