Ladybugs Use Antifreeze?! 3 Curious Ways Insects Survive in the Cold

10/17/23 • 25 min

Nat Theo Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible

Have you ever seen a ladybug wearing a sweater? How about a bee wearing a scarf or a spider wearing snow boots? Insects might not have a winter wardrobe, but God designed them to brave the cold in very creative ways! We're exploring:

Why did God make seasons?
How do insects survive cold months?
How can we live and do well in hard times?
How can we create a legacy for those who live after us?

Episode Links:

Order Nat Theo T-Shirts Through September 3rd: https://erynlynum.myshopify.com/

Get Eryn's new book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Free Coloring Sheet for This Episode: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo16

Join the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club

Scriptures Used in This Episode:

“As long as the earth continues, planting and harvest, cold and hot, summer and winter, day and night will not stop.” Genesis 8:22

“He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” Colossians 1:17

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1

“This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalm 91:2

“We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts...” Romans 5:3-5

“He (God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone.” Revelation 1:4

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Lifespan: The amount of time a certain species normally lives for.

Diapause: When an insect goes dormant (stops growing or developing) to survive the cold. Similar to hibernation.

Glycerol: A chemical compound some insects produce to keep their cells from freezing (same chemical used in antifreeze).

Legacy: What we do in life that blesses and impacts people after our lives.

Refuge: A safe place. A shelter.

Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Order Eryn's New Book, The Nature of Rest

The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Why did God make seasons?
How do insects survive cold months?
How can we live and do well in hard times?
How can we create a legacy for those who live after us?

Episode Links:

Order Nat Theo T-Shirts Through September 3rd: https://erynlynum.myshopify.com/

Get Eryn's new book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Free Coloring Sheet for This Episode: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo16

Join the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club

Scriptures Used in This Episode:

“As long as the earth continues, planting and harvest, cold and hot, summer and winter, day and night will not stop.” Genesis 8:22

“He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” Colossians 1:17

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1

“This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalm 91:2

“He (God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone.” Revelation 1:4

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Lifespan: The amount of time a certain species normally lives for.

Diapause: When an insect goes dormant (stops growing or developing) to survive the cold. Similar to hibernation.

Glycerol: A chemical compound some insects produce to keep their cells from freezing (same chemical used in antifreeze).

Legacy: What we do in life that blesses and impacts people after our lives.

Refuge: A safe place. A shelter.

Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Order Eryn's New Book, The Nature of Rest

The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Previous Episode

Do Trees Have Friends and Can They Talk to Each Other?

When God created plants, He made them in a very different way than animals and humans. And so the ways trees make friends and communicate with each other look quite different than our friendships and the way we talk! On this episode, we're exploring:

How are trees and plants different than animals and humans?
Do trees have friends?
How do trees communicate?
Why is it important that we choose our friends carefully?

Episode Links:

Order Nat Theo T-Shirts Through September 3rd: https://erynlynum.myshopify.com/

Join the Nat Theo Club & Get Full Episode Activity Guides!

Download the free Tree Friends coloring sheet and the Tree Secrets Devotional

Get Eryn's new book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation

Scriptures in Today's Episode:

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth produce plants—some to make grain for seeds and others to make fruits with seeds in them. Every seed will produce more of its own kind of plant.’ And it happened. The earth produced plants with grain for seeds and trees that made fruits with seeds in them. Each seed grew its own kind of plant. God saw that all this was good.” Genesis 1:11-12

“So encourage each other and give each other strength, just as you are doing now.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Terms Learned in Today's Episode:

Nephesh: Hebrew word meaning living creatures (animal and humans) with blood, spirit, and the breath of life

Theology: The study of God

Forester: Someone whose job is taking care of a forest

Mycelium: Underground network of fungi, like a web of life, that produces mushrooms.

Tannin: Bitter chemical compound found in plants

Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com

Sources that helped with research for this episode:

https://www.icr.org/article/are-plants-alive/

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

https://www.kariega.co.za/blog/do-giraffe-make-trees-talk-to-each-other

Mentioned in this episode:

Order Eryn's New Book, The Nature of Rest

The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Next Episode

The Crazy Ways Creatures See The World - Exploring Creature Eyes

Have you ever seen a snake wearing glasses? Did you know dragonflies have around 60,000 eyes? We're exploring the fascinating ways creatures see the world and answering these questions:

How many eyes do insects have?
Do snakes wear glasses?
How do chameleons move their eyes in two different directions?
How can we protect our eyes to see everything good, beautiful, and true?

Episode Links:

Order Nat Theo T-Shirts Through September 3rd: https://erynlynum.myshopify.com/

Get Eryn's new book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Free Coloring Sheet for This Episode: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo17

Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club

Chameleon Eye Research in Israel: https://www.voanews.com/a/scientists-solve-mystery-of-chameleon-eyes/3026868.html

Scriptures Used in This Episode:

“The eye is a light for the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness...” Matthew 6:22-23“

Keep me from looking at worthless things. Let me live by your word.” Psalm 119:37

“Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good.” Proverbs 4:25

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Complex: Opposite of simple. Consisting of many different and connected parts.

Compound: Something made up of two or more parts, elements, or ingredients.

Compound Eye: A larger eye made up of many tiny lenses, like tiny individual eyes.

Peripheral Vision: What we can see to the left, right, up, or down without moving our heads.

Facets or Ommatidia: The tiny lenses in a compound eye that act as light receptors and send information to the brain.

Eye Caps or Spectacles: Special clear scales over a snake’s eyes that protect and keep their eyes clean.

Sensory Receptor: Nerve ending that take in what is happening around us and helps send that information to our brains.

Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Order Eryn's New Book, The Nature of Rest

The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891