英语听力文摘 English Digest 317、灰蝶与蚂蚁双赢原则

　　灰蝶与蚂蚁双赢原则
The Special Relationship Between Ants and Lycaenid Butterflies
The Lycaenids are a group of butterflies known commonly as blues¹, coppers² and hairstreaks. Most species of Lycaenid butterflies have evolved close, mutually- beneficial relationships with different species of ants.
A Special Relationship
The caterpillars⁴ of these butterflies develop special glands⁵ that secrete⁶ a nectar-like substance to attract ants. The ants swarm⁷ all over the caterpillars, drinking the secretion⁸. The ants “milk” secretions⁹ from the caterpillars by tickling¹⁰ special glands on the caterpillars with their antennas¹¹.
In some Australian species, the attending ants even build thatched or earthen corrals to contain the caterpillars. By day the caterpillars are protected from predators¹² by the corral and the ants. At night the ants herd¹³ the caterpillars up a nearby tree to feed on leaves.
What Do The Caterpillars Get Out Of It?
The ants are like a private army of bodyguards¹⁴. Colonies of ants are quite fierce — swarming¹⁵, biting or even consuming potentialpredators.
In fact, the caterpillars’ sweet secretions are not only nutritious¹⁶, but also contain chemicals that subdue¹⁷ the ants. Otherwise the ants might kill the caterpillars themselves! Some caterpillars also make drumming sounds to keep their attendant ants alert.
Unprotected caterpillars would make a tasty treat for insect-eaters like birds, frogs or larger insects. But ants taste bitter or even toxic¹⁸ when eaten. To most predators, a caterpillar³ covered in ants is about as appetizing as a candy bar covered in thumbtacks.
So, the ants benefit from the energy-rich secretions produced by the caterpillars, and the caterpillars benefit from the ants’ protection.

　　译文：
灰蝴蝶是一群被认为有着蓝色，紫铜色，并且翅膀上有细纹的蝴蝶，其大部分品种的进化与许多蚂蚁有着亲密无间并且互惠互利的关系。
特殊关系
蝴蝶幼虫拥有一种特殊的腺体，它能够分泌如花蜜的甘甜物质来吸引蚂蚁。蚂蚁将幼虫包围，吮吸这甜美的“蜜”，同时也用自己的触须挠蝴蝶幼虫的腺体。
澳大利亚有些种类的蚂蚁甚至修建起“茅草屋”或者是“土畜栏”将幼虫圈起来。白天的时候，蚂蚁和畜栏保护幼虫不受食肉动物的侵犯，夜晚时，蚂蚁将幼虫搬离到离树近的地方，幼虫便能用树叶充饥。
蚂蚁就像是私人贴身保镖，并且是十分凶猛的保镖，他们成群结队撕咬甚至是消灭掉潜在的捕食者。
事实上，幼虫的分泌物不仅仅是营养丰富，同时也含有一种能够制服蚂蚁的化学物质，不然的话，蚂蚁也会让幼虫致命。有些幼虫甚至发出鼓声用以警示蚂蚁。
未受保护的蝴蝶幼虫对于如鸟类，蛙或者是大一点的昆虫这些食用昆虫的物种来说是一顿美餐。但如果是吃蚂蚁的话，不仅味道苦涩，甚至还是有毒的。在食肉动物看来，被蚂蚁包裹着的蝴蝶幼虫就像是包满图钉的糖果。
就这样，蚂蚁从幼虫的分泌物中摄取营养，而幼虫也正是有了蚂蚁的保护而健康成长。

1 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

2 coppers   

铜( copper的名词复数 )； 铜币

参考例句：

• I only paid a few coppers for it. 我只花了几个铜板买下这东西。
• He had only a few coppers in his pocket. 他兜里仅有几个铜板。

3 caterpillar   

n.毛虫，蝴蝶的幼虫

参考例句：

• A butterfly is produced by metamorphosis from a caterpillar.蝴蝶是由毛虫脱胎变成的。
• A caterpillar must pass through the cocoon stage to become a butterfly.毛毛虫必须经过茧的阶段才能变成蝴蝶。

4 caterpillars   

n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带

参考例句：

• Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant. 毛毛虫吃这种植物的嫩叶。
• Caterpillars change into butterflies or moths. 毛虫能变成蝴蝶或蛾子。 来自辞典例句

5 glands   

n.腺( gland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a snake's poison glands 蛇的毒腺
• the sebaceous glands in the skin 皮脂腺

6 secrete   

vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘

参考例句：

• The pores of your body secrete sweat.身上的毛孔分泌汗液。
• Squirrels secrete a supply of nuts for winter.松鼠为准备过冬而藏坚果。

7 swarm   

n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入

参考例句：

• There is a swarm of bees in the tree.这树上有一窝蜜蜂。
• A swarm of ants are moving busily.一群蚂蚁正在忙碌地搬家。

8 secretion   

n.分泌

参考例句：

• Is there much secretion from your eyes?你眼里的分泌物多吗？
• In addition,excessive secretion of oil,water scarcity are also major factors.除此之外，油脂分泌过盛、缺水也都是主要因素。

9 secretions   

n.分泌（物）( secretion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lysozyme is an enzyme found in egg white, tears, and other secretions. 溶菌酶是存在于卵白、泪和其他分泌物中的一种酶。 来自辞典例句
• Chest percussion and vibration are used with postural drainage to help dislodge secretions. 在做体位引流时要敲击和振动胸部帮助分泌物松动排出。 来自辞典例句

10 tickling   

反馈，回授，自旋挠痒法

参考例句：

• Was It'spring tickling her senses? 是不是春意撩人呢？
• Its origin is in tickling and rough-and-tumble play, he says. 他说，笑的起源来自于挠痒痒以及杂乱无章的游戏。

11 antennas   

[生] 触角，触须（antenna的复数形式）

参考例句：

• Marconi tied several antennas to kites. 马可尼在风筝上系了几根天线。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Radio astronomy today is armed with the largest antennas in the world. 射电天文学拥有世界上最大的天线。

12 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

14 bodyguards   

n.保镖，卫士，警卫员( bodyguard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks came to Jim's office accompanied—like always—by his two bodyguards. 和往常一样，在两名保镖的陪同下，布鲁克斯去吉姆的办公室。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Three of his bodyguards were injured in the attack. 在这次袭击事件中，他有3名保镖受了伤。 来自辞典例句

15 swarming   

密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去

参考例句：

• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。
• The beach is swarming with bathers. 海滩满是海水浴的人。

16 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

17 subdue   

vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制

参考例句：

• She tried to subdue her anger.她尽力压制自己的怒火。
• He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.他强迫自己克制并战胜恐惧心理。

18 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。