March 1, 2010
Mother Crickets Teach Their Unborn to Fear Spiders
Scientists at a loss to explain how they do it.
Mother Crickets Teach Their Unborn to Fear Spiders
Scientists at a loss to explain how they do it.
SUMMARY: Scientists don't know how they do it, but cricket mothers are able
to "warn" their unborn offspring about potential dangers from predators. This
appears to be the case even though the adult crickets abandon their eggs
before they hatch.
Jonathan Storm of the U. of South Carolina and Steven Lima of Indiana State
U. put pregnant crickets in enclosures with wolf spiders. The spiders' fangs
were covered with wax so they could not kill the crickets. After the crickets laid
their eggs, the behavior of the offspring toward the spiders was compared to
that of baby crickets whose mothers hadn't been exposed to spiders.
The differences were dramatic. The baby crickets whose mothers had been
exposed to the spiders were more likely to seek shelter when spiders were
around, and they stayed hidden up to 113% longer, resulting in higher
survival rates. They also were more likely to freeze when encountering spider
silk or feces.
Such transferral of information from mother to offspring about predation risk
may be more common than one might think, Storm said, but how the mothers
do it is unclear. This situation appears to be true in the wild as well as in the
laboratory.
To read the entire article, click on this link to WORLD SCIENCE.
COMMENT: We have long known about the intelligence of such animals as
chimpanzees and dolphins. Lately, we have been hearing that birds such as
crows, despite their bird brains, may be just as intelligent. But crickets? It's
amazing enough that such lowly members of the animal kingdom as mother
crickets can warn their babies about dangers from spiders but to do it even
before the babies are hatched is truly remarkable. Our intelligent scientists
admit they don't have a clue as to how these lowly creatures are able to
accomplish such a feat.
That brings us to the question of what is easier to believe. Does it make
sense that crickets could have achieved such intelligence via natural means?
First of all, crickets would have had to somehow survive spider attacks before
they learned to fear these predators.
Isn't it more logical to believe that crickets were created with the needed
intelligence right from the beginning. Our wise Creator knows what gifts each
living organisms needs to survive. For instance, He has given to each of His
most prized creatures, human beings, the gift of a Savior. Unless they reject
Jesus Christ as their Savior, they can survive all the way into the next world.
There will be no predators or anything else to fear in heaven.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
Smoky the Bear used to say, "Only you can prevent forest fires." What
does he say now?
****************************************************************************************************
1 Comment
Neil Cadman wrote: Thank you for a very interesting article. Information on human
mothers relating to their child in the womb woould be appreciated.
Even though tey are only crickets it is something abortionists would not like to know
about.
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including
those containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity
or advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please
allow several hours for it to appear on the blog.
to "warn" their unborn offspring about potential dangers from predators. This
appears to be the case even though the adult crickets abandon their eggs
before they hatch.
Jonathan Storm of the U. of South Carolina and Steven Lima of Indiana State
U. put pregnant crickets in enclosures with wolf spiders. The spiders' fangs
were covered with wax so they could not kill the crickets. After the crickets laid
their eggs, the behavior of the offspring toward the spiders was compared to
that of baby crickets whose mothers hadn't been exposed to spiders.
The differences were dramatic. The baby crickets whose mothers had been
exposed to the spiders were more likely to seek shelter when spiders were
around, and they stayed hidden up to 113% longer, resulting in higher
survival rates. They also were more likely to freeze when encountering spider
silk or feces.
Such transferral of information from mother to offspring about predation risk
may be more common than one might think, Storm said, but how the mothers
do it is unclear. This situation appears to be true in the wild as well as in the
laboratory.
To read the entire article, click on this link to WORLD SCIENCE.
COMMENT: We have long known about the intelligence of such animals as
chimpanzees and dolphins. Lately, we have been hearing that birds such as
crows, despite their bird brains, may be just as intelligent. But crickets? It's
amazing enough that such lowly members of the animal kingdom as mother
crickets can warn their babies about dangers from spiders but to do it even
before the babies are hatched is truly remarkable. Our intelligent scientists
admit they don't have a clue as to how these lowly creatures are able to
accomplish such a feat.
That brings us to the question of what is easier to believe. Does it make
sense that crickets could have achieved such intelligence via natural means?
First of all, crickets would have had to somehow survive spider attacks before
they learned to fear these predators.
Isn't it more logical to believe that crickets were created with the needed
intelligence right from the beginning. Our wise Creator knows what gifts each
living organisms needs to survive. For instance, He has given to each of His
most prized creatures, human beings, the gift of a Savior. Unless they reject
Jesus Christ as their Savior, they can survive all the way into the next world.
There will be no predators or anything else to fear in heaven.
****************************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
****************************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Smoky the Bear used to say, "Only you can prevent forest fires." What
does he say now?
****************************************************************************************************
1 Comment
Neil Cadman wrote: Thank you for a very interesting article. Information on human
mothers relating to their child in the womb woould be appreciated.
Even though tey are only crickets it is something abortionists would not like to know
about.
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including
those containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity
or advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please
allow several hours for it to appear on the blog.
| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author (Warren Krug) and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |
"Only you can prevent wildfires." The word
"wildfires" is more inclusive, including all
unwanted, unplanned fires in natural areas
such as grass fires or brush fires. (Picture
from Wikipedia.)
Source: Parade (February 14,2010)
"wildfires" is more inclusive, including all
unwanted, unplanned fires in natural areas
such as grass fires or brush fires. (Picture
from Wikipedia.)
Source: Parade (February 14,2010)
