Parasites, especially fungi, are usually written off by evolutionary biologists as simple, primitive organisms. However, whether they choose to recognize the Creator or not, biologists are learning that nothing in God’s creation is simple or primitive. Parasites seem to display some of the most clever planning or scheming—depending on your point of view—in all creation.

A parasitic fungus that infects a roadside weed called catchfly seems to do nothing harmful to the plant. After infection, a profusion of white blossoms will open—even a few weeks earlier than normal. Bees and butterflies will arrive to collect the grains from the flowers. However, the grains they are spreading aren’t pollen but fungus spores. The fungus has not only turned female flowers into males, but has transformed the stamens into spore factories.

This is not the only trick played by the fungus. It also coaxes the catchfly into producing far more flowers than usual, making the plants it infects more attractive than surrounding catchflies. As a result, pollinators come first to the infected flowers before going to the uninfected plants.

This is but one example among many showing that nothing from God’s hand is carelessly done. The lesson for us is more than that living things don’t fit into the evolutionary simple-to-complex scheme. God also wants us to know that He cares about everything He has made, no matter how lowly.

Job 5:8-10
“But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause; Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number. He gives rain on earth, and sends waters on the fields.”

Prayer: Dear Father, I ask that You would not turn Your face from us because of the millions of infants killed by abortion. Millions of Your people reject abortion. Grant us strength to uphold Your truth wisely and end the deaths. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

REF: Cowen, Ron. Parasite power. Science News, v. 138. Image: Catchfly by Takaharu Misawa from Pixabay.