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萤火虫
A familiar sight on hot summer nights, each firefly flashes its light in a pattern unique to its subspecies.
在炎热夏天的夜晚有一个熟悉的景象，每个萤火虫亚种以各自特有的模式闪烁自己的“尾灯”。
萤火虫概况：
Type: Bug
类型：虫
Diet: Omnivore
饮食：杂食动物
Average life span in the wild: About 2 months
野外平均寿命：约2个月
Size: Up to 1 in (2.5 cm)
大小：1英寸（2.5cm）
萤火虫大家都熟悉，但鲜有人知道这些昆虫其实属于甲虫，萤科家族的夜猫子。大多数萤火虫具有翅，有别于同科的其他发冷光的昆虫，比如一般被称作发光虫的昆虫。
There are about 2,000 firefly species. These insects live in a variety of warm environments, as well as in more temperate regions, and are a familiar sight on summer evenings. Fireflies love moisture and often live in humid regions of Asia and the Americas. In drier areas, they are found around wet or damp areas that retain moisture.
萤火虫大约有2000种。这些萤火虫生活在各种各样的温暖环境中，以及更广的温带地区，夏天的傍晚你常常能够见到它们。萤火虫喜湿，常分布在亚洲和美洲的湿润地区。在干燥的地区，他们于潮湿地区周围被发现，这样以保持自身水分。
Everyone knows how fireflies got their name, but many people don't know how the insects produce their signature glow. Fireflies have dedicated light organs that are located under their abdomens. The insects take in oxygen and, inside special cells, combine it with a substance called luciferin to produce light with almost no heat.
每个人都知道萤火虫名字的由来，然而很多人却萤火虫是如何发出它们标志性的闪光的。在萤火虫腹部下面有专门发光的器官。首先，萤火虫吸氧通过特殊的细胞与一种叫荧光素的物质结合就会几乎毫不放热的发出光亮。1
Firefly light is usually intermittent, and flashes in patterns that are unique to each species. Each blinking pattern is an optical signal that helps fireflies find potential mates. Scientists are not sure how the insects regulate this process to turn their lights on and off.
萤火虫的闪光通常是间歇性的模式，这种模式因具体种的不同而各异。每一个闪烁模式都是帮助萤火虫发现潜在配偶的光信号。对于萤火虫如何调节光的亮与息，科学家们尚不能确定。
Firefly light may also serve as a defense mechanism that flashes a clear warning of the insect's unappetizing taste. The fact that even larvae are luminescent lends support to this theory.
萤火虫的光也可以作为一种防御机制，闪烁的萤火虫会让天敌昆虫大倒胃口，食欲不振。事实上，萤火虫幼虫发光现象支持了这一理论。
Females deposit their eggs in the ground, which is where larvae develop to adulthood. Underground larvae feed on worms and slugs by injecting them with a numbing fluid.
雌虫会将虫卵产在地上，幼虫将会在那里发育成成虫。地下萤火虫幼虫会寄生于蠕虫和蛞蝓，使其麻木分解并以此为食。1
Adults eschew such prey and typically feed on nectar or pollen, though some adults do not eat at all.
成虫会避免此种捕食方式，典型的以花蜜或花粉为食，虽然某些萤火虫成虫压根不进食。
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