Julie Lavender

CONSIDER THE COW KILLER WASP
by Julie Lavender

On my walk with God today I encountered – and steered clear from – the gorgeous cow killer, or as it is sometimes called, the velvet ant.

Not an ant! 

The name is misleading: the insect is actually a wasp, not an ant. I’m thinking it was misnamed quite a bit ago, because the wingless female makes her way on the ground like an ant, and even looks like one. In fact, a velvety one, because of all the hairs on the body.

  

Unlike the female, the male cow killer sports wings and can fly. Also unlike its counterpart, the male cow killer has no stinger.

              Not a cow killer, either!

Another misnomer is the fact that the female wasp can’t kill a cow with her sting.

Research revealed legends that explain the misconception. One such legend says that a velvet ant sting causes such pain to a cow that the poor animal will take off running uncontrollably and break her leg during the rampage, eventually dying.

A female cow killer wasp sting is extremely painful to humans. Though I would never tempt fate, research also says that the wasps won’t sting unless provoked and will make every attempt to escape before stinging. I don’t plan to find out the validity of THAT research info.

Warning! Warning! 

Without access to the internet and that knowledge, most cows, on their own, avoid the cow killer wasp at all costs. As do other animals.

Animals have in inherent understanding of the warning colorations of other animals. Bright, contrasting colors like the red and black of the velvet ant or black widow spider, or the blue and yellow of the poison dart frog, convey the ability for that animal to defend himself or herself. To put that in basic terms, they are dangerous.

We as humans have learned to recognize the warning colors of certain animals, too, especially various stinging and biting insects, and to avoid unnecessary contact with them.

Unfortunately, we may not see bright warning colors when sin and temptation presents itself. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to give us the warning we need! Whether it’s a gentle nudge or a loudly-proclaimed word to our spirit, the Holy Spirit finds a way to warn us of sin and dangerous behavior.

And if we don’t heed that warning, well, then we could wind up with a nasty sting or bite and have to deal with the consequences that follow.

I sure hope I’ll pay attention and steer clear!

Thank you, God, for warning colors and 

warning nudges.

What about you? Have you ever had an encounter with a stinging insect? My then nine-year-old daughter once got stung by several yellow jackets when she stepped on a rotting log and disturbed their nest. She didn't have time for a warning, but she got more than a nudge when they plunged stingers into her delicate skin!