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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。然而，对于它们的天敌，比如蜥蜴、蜘蛛、和鸟来说却并非如此。对它们而言，这些绚烂的花纹暗示它们这不是可口的食物。对于那些不易被骗的天敌，有些蝴蝶翅膀上还备了眼睛的图案。据专家称，这会让捕食者误以为眼前的蝴蝶是某些大的生物，比如说猫头鹰。
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。它们淡黄的翅膀在蝴蝶中并不出众，但它们的茧——用来保护毛毛虫蜕变蝴蝶的居所，却是少见的金黄色。
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。藏在硬硬的茧内时，蝴蝶需要竭尽所能避免被其他生物吃掉或者被寄生，否则就不能破茧而出。颜色复杂的茧能保护蝴蝶幼虫不受捕食者伤害，在里面顺利成长。
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。它们有更重要的使命——使蝴蝶避免成为捕食者的盘中餐。
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。
