纪录片《我们的地球》 第104期 奇幻沙漠(21)（在线收听）

An adult locust eats its entire body weight every day.

成虫每天的进食量相当于自己的体重

And a whole swarm can consume literally hundreds of tonnes of vegetation.

而整团蝗虫云能消耗掉数百吨植物

They have to keep on moving. The swarm travels with the wind.

它们必须不停地迁徙。沙漠蝗御风而行。

It's the most energy-saving way of flying.

这是最省力的飞行方式

Following the flow of wind means that they're always heading toward areas of low pressure.

随着风向迁徙，意味着它们总是飞向低压地区

Places where wind meets rain and vegetation starts to grow.

那里正是风雨交加的地方，植物定能生长

As they fly, swarms join up with other swarms to form gigantic plagues

在飞行过程中，一团蝗虫云也会和其它蝗虫云汇合，从而形成巨大的灾害，

several billion strong and as much as 40 miles wide.

无数“瘟神”组成的大军绵延长达40英里

They will consume every edible thing that lies in their path.

它们将把一路上能吃的东西全部吃得精光

This is one of planet Earth's greatest spectacles.

这是地球上最壮观的景象之一

It's rarely seen on this scale and it won't last long.

很少能看见如此大的规模，而且也不会持续多久。

Once the food has gone, the steady roar of a billion beating locust wings

待到食物耗尽之时，无数蝗虫拍打翅膀时的喧哗将不复存在，

will once again be replaced by nothing more than the sound of the desert wind.

再次取代它的只是沙漠中呼啸的风声。