纪录片《南太平洋》 第14期 大洋小岛（14）

Hawaii's isolation¹ has had a curious effect on the evolution of some of its other wildlife, too.

夏威夷对其它野生动物也产生了奇妙的影响

Crawling around these ferns are caterpillars³.

这些在蕨类植物上爬行的是毛虫

They're the larvae⁴ of a moth⁵ and look ordinary enough.

它们是蛾类幼虫，外观很平常

But these tiny caterpillars are perhaps the strangest of their kind in the world.

但这些微小的毛虫或许是世上最奇怪的蛾类幼虫

When one finds the right spot, it settles down to chew through a leaf.

一旦找到适当的地点，它们就会安顿下来啃叶子

So far, so normal. But the caterpillar² is not actually swallowing the bits of leaf.

到目前为止一切都很正常。但实际上，毛虫并没有吞食叶子

It's channelling a gap between the segments.

它只是在叶片上啃出一条缝隙

When finished, it'll tuck itself into the space.

完工后就将自己挤进去

So what is so strange about this animal?

这种幼虫有什么奇特之处呢

Well, those are not your typical caterpillar feet, and what follows is not your typical caterpillar behaviour.

这些并不是普通的毛虫脚，接下来，也不是普通毛虫的行为

This is a carnivorous caterpillar with a vice-like hold and a bite to match.

它是食肉毛虫，长有带刺的钳状爪

Hawaii's numerous fruit flies were just too good an opportunity to ignore.

夏威夷的果蝇数量众多，这是不容忽视的大好机会

1 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

2 caterpillar   

n.毛虫，蝴蝶的幼虫

参考例句：

• A butterfly is produced by metamorphosis from a caterpillar.蝴蝶是由毛虫脱胎变成的。
• A caterpillar must pass through the cocoon stage to become a butterfly.毛毛虫必须经过茧的阶段才能变成蝴蝶。

3 caterpillars   

n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带

参考例句：

• Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant. 毛毛虫吃这种植物的嫩叶。
• Caterpillars change into butterflies or moths. 毛虫能变成蝴蝶或蛾子。 来自辞典例句

4 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。

5 moth   

n.蛾，蛀虫

参考例句：

• A moth was fluttering round the lamp.有一只蛾子扑打着翅膀绕着灯飞。
• The sweater is moth-eaten.毛衣让蛀虫咬坏了。