(单词翻译:单击)
Butterfly Wings: More Than Meets the Eye
蝴蝶奇妙的翅膀
For humans seeing butterflies fluttering around with their beautiful brightly colored wings is a joyful sight. However not for their natural predators like lizards, spiders, and birds. To them, the vibrant hues are a reminder of a bad-tasting species that are best avoided. For those not easily duped, some butterflies also have eyespots on their wings. According to researchers, this tricks would-be predators into thinking that the insect is a larger animal, like an owl.
人们都很喜欢蝴蝶扇动五彩缤纷的翅膀飞舞的样子
If that is not enough to impress you, how about this? The smart insects have different colors and scaled patterns on the underside of their wings. This enables them to blend in with the leaves or tree bark while resting. And there is more! Some species of butterflies even have ultraviolet patterns that are visible only to other butterflies, a trick that helps them seek out the perfect mates!
这对你来说还不够奇妙吗?聪明的蝴蝶翅膀上有不同的颜色和层次,这使它们在树叶或者树干上休息时能很好的伪装自己 。这还不是最赞的!有些种类的蝴蝶翅膀上有紫外线下只有同伴才能看到的图案,这便于它们找到完美的配偶 。
Moreover, in many species such as Asia's paper kite butterflies, the deception starts early. With its off-white/yellow wings, this species is not amongst the most attractive butterfly. However, its chrysalis — the hard protective covering that houses the caterpillar as it develops into a butterfly, is a gorgeous shiny golden color.
除此之外,有些如亚洲纸风筝蝶的蝴蝶,在生命初期就学会了伪装
While camouflage is important for the adult insects, it is even more so when they are in the chrysalis stage. Trapped inside the hard shell, the insects need all the help they can get given that they are unable to flee from creatures looking to eat or parasitize them. A chrysalis that blends in gives the fledgling butterfly the chance to grow within its case without the constant worry of predator attacks.
伪装对蝴蝶成虫很重要,但在它们在茧里的时期意义重大
So the next time you spy butterflies, remember that the vibrantly colored wings are not just for "good looks." They serve a bigger, more important purpose - helping the insects avoid becoming the main course on a predator’s menu.
所以下次再观察蝴蝶时,记得它们绚烂的翅膀并不只是为了好看
译文属可可英语原创,仅供学习和交流使用,未经许可,请勿转载 。