A Mighty Chitin-clad Machine

What a bug! Sorry, not a bug (Order Hemiptera) but a beetle (Order Coleoptera). It’s the Red Milkweed Beetle, Tetraopes tetraophthalmus. Both Genus and species names suggest that it has four eyes. And as you can see, it looks like it does (Click photo to enlarge). Actually, the antenna is mounted in the middle of the eye, splitting it into upper and lower portions—a strange arrangement, but it works for this insect—and gives it a really long scientific name.

Many of the visitors to the milkweed (this one is walking on unopened buds) are red or orange with black markings, a way of telling potential munchers, “don’t eat me—I taste bad!” The Monarch Butterfly and the Orange Milkweed Bug (that one IS a true bug) are other examples.

They actually DO taste bad because they feed on various parts of the milkweed plant, which produces some very potent chemicals, which in turn become concentrated in the bodies of the insects. So any bird or other predator quickly learns to avoid orange or red things for lunch, at risk of gagging, throwing up or even dying. And lest you should be intimidated by the appearance of this fellow, be aware that it is a mere ½ inch in length—macro photography can be deceiving.

Even at a half-inch, this beetle is impressive, totally armor-plated in chitin, a tough compound related to cellulose and forming the exoskeletons of all arthropods. It’s tough, yet flexible enough to allow movement in the insect’s six jointed legs, its chewing mouth parts and its long, jointed antennae. The armor, while passive in itself, is empowered by strong internal muscles and well coordinated by a sophisticated nervous system.

That should remind us to not only keep our Ephesians 6 armor on but also to be motivated by the Holy Spirit within—more powerful than chitin, muscles and nerves, that’s for sure.

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:11-17 NKJV)