新奇事件簿 带巨型螯刺的黄蜂

Scientists in the Amazon rainforest have come across a new wasp¹ that could encourage Hollywood to make a horror movie. The newly-discovered insect has a huge stinger on its tail that could inject a powerful and deadly sting into any unfortunate victim. A scientist said the stinger "looks like a fierce weapon". The stinger delivers a paralyzing venom² that debilitates³ its victims. Once paralysis⁴ has set in, the wasp lays eggs inside the victim's body. Researchers from the University of Turku in Finland discovered the wasp. A professor in biodiversity research said: "The stinger of the new parasitoid wasp...is not only long but also very wide, in comparison to the size of the species."

亚马逊热带雨林的科学家无意中新发现了一种黄蜂，都可以让好莱坞拍摄一部恐怖电影了。这种新发现的昆虫，它们的尾巴后边有一只巨大的螯刺，可以向任何不幸的受害者发射威力巨大且致命的毒刺。一名科学家表示这种螯刺“看起来像是一种凶猛的武器”。螯刺可射出一种麻痹毒液，使受害者变得虚弱。一旦瘫痪，黄蜂就会在受害者体内产卵。来自芬兰图尔库大学的研究人员发现了这种黄蜂。一名从事生物多样性研究的教授称：“这种新拟寄生黄蜂的螯刺...与同类物种大小相比，不仅长而且很宽。”

The professor explained that parasitoid insects put larvae⁵ inside their host - usually another inset. Once the larvae grow, they eat the insect from the inside out. Researchers believe the unfortunate victim of this new wasp is likely to be a spider, although they need to undertake further research to ascertain⁶ exactly which species of spiders might fall prey⁷ to the wasp's stinger. The professor explained that: "The giant stinger of the current species is very likely a highly sophisticated tool as well. Unfortunately, we can only guess at its other purposes." He added: "Beautiful and exciting species with strange habits catch people's attention and highlight the importance of maintaining vulnerable ecosystems⁸."

教授解释道，拟寄生昆虫将幼虫寄生在寄主体内—通常是其他的昆虫。一旦幼虫开始生长，它们会将从里到外蚕食寄主。研究人员认为这种新黄蜂的不幸受害者可能是一种蜘蛛，虽然他们还需要进行进一步研究确定哪种蜘蛛会成为它们螯刺的牺牲者。教授解释称：“目前这种物种的巨大螯刺也很有可能一种高度精密的工具。不幸的是我们仅能根据其他的目的进行猜测。”他补充到：“拥有奇怪习性的美丽物种能够吸引人们的注意，还能够突出维护脆弱生态系统的重要性。”

1 wasp   

n.黄蜂，蚂蜂

参考例句：

• A wasp stung me on the arm.黄蜂蜇了我的手臂。
• Through the glass we can see the wasp.透过玻璃我们可以看到黄蜂。

2 venom   

n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨

参考例句：

• The snake injects the venom immediately after biting its prey.毒蛇咬住猎物之后马上注入毒液。
• In fact,some components of the venom may benefit human health.事实上，毒液的某些成分可能有益于人类健康。

3 debilitates   

v.使（人或人的身体）非常虚弱( debilitate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Heat debilitates many people. 酷热使得很多人体弱力衰。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

5 larvae   

n.幼虫

参考例句：

• Larvae are parasitic on sheep.幼虫寄生在绵羊的身上。
• The larvae prey upon small aphids.这种幼虫以小蚜虫为食。

6 ascertain   

vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清

参考例句：

• It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
• We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。

7 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

8 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句