Freaks of Evolution Part 5

The Bombardier Beetle

This is one of my favorite examples of the falsehood of evolution. The bombardier beetle has a defense system that is somewhat like a cross between tear gas and an M-14! It stores enzymes in one body chamber, and hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinones (some rather harmless compounds), in another body chamber. When the bombardier beetle feels threatened, it mixes these enzymes with the other compounds (hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinones), inside it's body. The resulting spray of benzoquinones from the end of the abdomen, explodes at an amazing 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The mixture is pumped through twin rotating rear nozzles that resemble a B-17's gun turret!

Since these chemicals are so explosive when mixed, they must be kept completely separate, or the beetle would explode. That is why there are two bodily chambers that store them separately. If these chemicals were combined upon formation, they most certainly would explode. These chemicals are mixed, right before the exit from the firing chamber, in such a way that they will not explode inside the beetle, scientists still do not understand how this is accomplished. However, this makes the mixture useless against predators. That's why there is another chemical factory that produces the catalyst necessary to start the explosion. This requires an asbestos-lined firing chamber. The explosion is then directed toward the offender with such precision that it requires a very complex nervous system and a brain that is able to make quick decisions to be able to tell what is an enemy and what is not. Furthermore, the explosion is let out like a machine gun, in lots of little blasts instead of one large one. This is to avoid the thrust through the air required by Newton's Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

If we were to consider the possibility of the bombardier beetle having evolved, we would run into the problem of the irreducibly complex defense system that this beetle possesses. In order for this complex system to have evolved, every part of this defense system must have evolved at exactly the same time. The beetle must have all parts of its defense system present and fully functional or the bug would blow up! If the individual parts did not evolve simultaneously, predators would be quite surprised to see their prey explode before their eyes! This is yet another example of "irreducible complexity". This is so complex that scientists still cannot explain how, in a step-by-step method, this incredible machine works. I think that anybody could look at the bombardier beetle and see that it points to God's intelligent design. I am always amazed at the wonders of God's creation. Especially when I look at the bombardier beetle!