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"Surely
Allah is not ashamed to set forth any parable-- (that of) a (female) gnat or any
thing above that; then as for those who believe, they know that it is the truth
from their Lord, and as for those who disbelieve, they say: What is it that
Allah means by this parable: He causes many to err by it and many He leads
aright by it! but He does not cause to err by it (any) except the
transgressors" (Surah al-Baqarah: 26)
What
is generally known about gnats is that they are bloodsuckers and they feed on
blood. However, this is not correct information, because not all the gnats but
only the females suck blood. Besides, the females do not suck blood
because of their need for food. Both male and female gnats feed on flower
nectar. The only reason why females, unlike males, suck blood is their need for
the proteins found in the blood, which help their eggs to develop. In other
words, the female gnat sucks blood just to secure the perpetuation of its
generation.
The
development process is one of the most amazing and admirable qualities of the
gnat. Gnat eggs, which are fed by blood and get developed, are laid on damp
leaves or dried ponds by the female gnat during summer or fall. Prior to this,
the mother initially examines the ground thoroughly, by using the delicate
receptors under her abdomen. Upon finding a convenient place, she starts to lay
her eggs. Eggs, which are less than 1
mm. in length, are arranged in a row either in groups or one by one. Some
species lay their eggs joined to each other forming a raft, some of which may
contain about 300 eggs. In some gnat species, female gnats laid and lined
hundreds of eggs then, formed it like a raft. Gnats are equipped with
extremely sensitive heat receptors. They perceive things around them in
different colours depending on their heat. As this perception is not dependent
on light, it is quite easy for the gnat to spot the blood vessels even in a dark
room. The heat receptors of the gnat are sensitive enough to sense heat
differences as small as 1/1000 C degrees.
The
gnat has nearly 100 eyes. These eyes are placed as compound eyes on the top of
its head. The gnat’s technique of "blood sucking" is unbelievably
amazing. After the gnat lands on its target, it first detects a spot by using
the two devices around its mouth. The syringe-like sting of the gnat is
protected with a special sheath, which is stripped off during the blood sucking
process. The gnat does not prick the skin by thrusting its sting into it with
pressure as assumed. Here, the duty falls to the upper jaw, which is as sharp as
a knife, and the mandible on which there are teeth bent backwards. The mandible
is moved forwards and backwards like a saw and the skin is cut with the help of
the upper jaws. When the sting inserted through this cleavage on the skin reach
to the blood vessel, the drilling ends. Now it's the time for the animal to suck
blood. However, as known, in the slightest harm made to the vessels, the human
body secretes an enzyme that clots the blood and stops it’s shedding. This
should be a great problem for the gnat, because the body would also react to the
tiny hole opened by the gnat, therefore, the blood would be clotted and
reparation would start. This means that the animal would not be able to suck any
blood. But the problem is specially eliminated for the gnat. Before the animal
starts sucking blood, it leaves a special liquid secreted in its body into the
cleavage opened in the human vessel. This liquid neutralizes the enzyme that
provides for the clotting of the blood. Thus, the gnat sucks the blood it needs
without any problem of clotting. The itching and swelling of the spot bitten by
the gnat is caused by this liquid, which prevents clotting.
☼♀♂ BEES AND THE HIDDEN MIRACLES OF HONEY ☼♀♂
☼♀♂ ANTS' COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ☼♀♂
☼♀♂ THE GNATS' LIFE ☼♀♂