MARVEL OF GOD'S
CREATION #1

The Bombardier Beetle

If there is any creature on earth that could not possibly
have evolved, that creature is the Bombardier Beetle. It needed God to
create it with all its systems fully functional.

...the bombardier (beetle) does appear to be
unique in the animal kingdom. Its defense system is extraordinarily
intricate, a cross between tear gas and a tommy gun. When the beetle
senses danger, it internally mixes enzymes contained in one body chamber
with concentrated solutions of some rather harmless compounds, hydrogen
peroxide and hydroquinones, confined to a second chamber. This generates
a noxious spray of

caustic benzoquinones, which explodes from its body at a
boiling 212° F. What is more, the fluid is pumped through
twin rear nozzles, which can be rotated, like a B-17's gun turret, to
hit a hungry ant or frog with bull's eye accuracy.[1]

Evolutionary theory has big problems when attempting to
explain the existence and complexity of the Bombardier. Each stage in
the evolution of its special chemicals would have led to its
destruction.

This one-half inch insect mixes chemicals which violently
react to produce something similar to an explosion. How could the
bombardier beetle have evolved this means of defense without killing
itself in the process? This problem has the members of the evolutionary
establishment scratching their heads. Evolutionary theory says that you
do not evolve something until you know you need it. In other words a new
enzyme or chemical or organ or fin or beak or bone will not evolve until
the creature realizes it needs the new improvement. The bombardier
beetle would not have known it needed a mechanism to prevent these
chemicals from blowing it up until it mixed the chemicals and blew
itself up. Naturally, it could not evolve after it was dead, so how did
it get here? The evolutionists say, “We don't know.”

To prevent its own destruction the little bug manufactures
another chemical, called an inhibitor, and mixes it in with the
explosive chemicals. But with the inhibitor, it would not be able to use
the explosion of hot, burning liquid and gases to discourage its
enemies. A spider would eat it because the beetle has no solution to
explode to protect itself. Again, we have a dead beetle. Dead bugs
cannot evolve the next chemical needed to release the protective
reaction. That chemical turns out to be an anti-inhibitor. When the
anti-inhibitor is added to the other chemicals, an explosive reaction
does occur and the beetle is able to defend itself. There is still
another problem, however: the beetle must have an especially tough
“combustion chamber” and that chamber must have an outlet for the
violent reaction to release its energy, or once again we have a dead
bug. Problem solved: this unique creature has the necessary equipment,
including twin-tail tubes to “exhaust” its defensive reaction. These
tubes can be aimed at enemies in a 180° arc from straight to the rear, to
directly toward the front. Amazingly, it does not shoot friendly
creatures but only its enemies! How does a one-half inch long insect
know how to aim at and shoot only enemies? And, how did its incredibly
complex nervous system and advanced chemical system evolve? There is
nothing like the Bombardier beetle in the entire animal
kingdom.

Is this an example of the “impersonal, plus time, plus
chance” or is it an example of a special, intricate creation by a God
who is intimately involved with His creatures? Which system of belief
can best explain the marvelous Bombardier Beetle: Evolution or Creation?
[2]

[1]
Natalie Angier reported by Rick Thompson/San Francisco,
Time Magazine (February 25,
1985), p. 70

[2]
Duane Gish, Ph.D., Dinosaurs Those Terrible Lizards
(San Diego: Creation Life Publishers), pp. 50-55. These pages describe
the Bombardier Beetle. This children's book is primarily about
dinosaurs.

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