2020-06-01 Nature crisis Moths have ‘secret role’ as crucial pollinators 飞蛾作为传粉者 扮演着重要的 “秘密角色”

新的研究显示，飞蛾在夜间作为多种花卉及植物的传粉者起着至关重要的作用。飞蛾的运输网络比蜜蜂等日间传粉的昆虫更大、更复杂。

Long seen as fluttering pests that make holes in your clothes, scientists now say we have badly misjudged the humble moth. While bees are widely recognised for their role as pollinators, we have overlooked the same job being done by moths during the hours of darkness.

长久以来，飞蛾被看作是扑棱着翅膀、在衣服上钻洞的害虫，但现在科学家们说，我们严重地错判了这些不起眼的飞蛾。虽然蜜蜂传播花粉的作用被人们普遍认可，但我们却忽视了飞蛾在黑夜中也做着相同的工作。

The study published in the journal Biology Letters found that pollen often sticks to the moth’s hairy body and is then transported to a wide range of plants and flowers during their nighttime travels.

这篇发表在《生物学快报》期刊上的研究发现，花粉通常粘在蛾子毛茸茸的身体上，等到夜间活动时，随即被运送到各种各样的植物和花朵上。

Not only are their distribution networks larger and more complex than daytime pollinators, the moths help pollinate species rarely visited by bees and butterflies.

飞蛾的运输网络不仅比日间传粉昆虫的网络更大、更复杂，而且还能帮助蜜蜂和蝴蝶很少光顾的物种进行授粉。

The researchers from University College London are concerned because moth numbers are still in serious decline due to pesticides and changes in land use. The moth’s real problem is perception, they say. And the key to preserving their vital role isn’t regulation, but recognition.

来自伦敦大学学院的研究人员担心，由于杀虫剂和土地利用的变化，飞蛾数量仍在急剧下降。他们说，飞蛾面临的真正问题是人们对这个物种的看法。然而保护飞蛾这一重要角色的关键不是规章制度，而是人们对它们的理解与认可。

词汇

fluttering （动物的翅膀）扑打着
pests 害虫
misjudged 被错误地判断
humble 不起眼的，普通的
recognised 被认可
pollinators 传粉者
pollen 花粉
transported 被传送
distribution networks 运输网络
species 物种
pesticides 杀虫剂
perception 看法，认识
regulation 控制，管理

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. True or false? Moths help pollinate plants and flowers.

2. How are moths seen by people?

3. Why are researchers concerned about moths?

4. What is the key to preserving the moth’s vital role, according to the scientists?

答案 

1. True or false? Moths help pollinate plants and flowers.
True. While bees are widely recognised for their role as pollinators, the same job is being done by moths.

2. How are moths seen by people?
They are long seen as fluttering pests that make holes in your clothes.

3. Why are researchers concerned about moths?
They are concerned because moth numbers are still in serious decline due to pesticides and changes in land use.

4. What is the key to preserving the moth’s vital role, according to the scientists?
The key to preserving their vital role is recognition, not regulation.