时差N小时 大自然最杰出的建造师

Unless you're an entomologist or a beekeeper, beestypically inspire one thing: fear.

一提到蜜蜂，大家能联想到的可能是“可怕”，昆虫学者或养蜂人当然例外啦。

But most bees are non-aggressive, and only sting when provoked.

但是，大多数的蜜蜂是没有攻击性的，蜜蜂蜇人那是万不得已的！

In fact, once youget beyond the stinger, bees are pretty fascinating.

事实上，蜜蜂是伟大的建筑师，而绝非仅仅是蜇人。

Beehive construction begins with finding a suitable site.

蜂巢建造的第一步：

Scout¹ bees seek hollow spaces in trees and human-made structures.

侦察蜂寻觅合适的搭建处。

Such spaces must be able to hold at least six and a half gallons, andhave a small entrance that faces south for warmth.

侦察蜂在树林间或人造建筑物中寻找至少6.5加仑的空间，并且有面朝温暖南方的入口。

Once they've found the perfect spot, the scouts² prepare the site by clearing away loose wood orother rubbish and coat the space with a dried tree resin³ called propolis.

一旦侦察蜂找到绝佳的建造蜂巢点，它们会做好准备工作：清理掉松动的木材或其它杂物，在表层涂上叫蜂胶的干树脂。

Worker bees then take over, secreting⁴ wax to build the hive.

下一步轮到工蜂了，工蜂用蜂蜡建造蜂巢。

Starting from the top and workingdown, they build combs-layers of hexagonally shaped cells with passageways along the walls toallow bees to move between combs.

先搭建巢基，逐层往下，每个蜂房都是六边形的。蜂房与蜂房间要留有空隙以便蜜蜂出入。

Each layer of cells has a specialized⁵ purpose.

每个蜂房都有特殊的作用。

The uppermost cells store honey, followed by pollen⁶-storage cells.

最上面的蜂房是储存蜂蜜的，下面一层是储存花粉的，

The bottom layers aredesignated for infant-rearing.

再下层是幼虫变成工蜂的孵化室，

Just beneath the pollen cells are brood cells where larvae⁷ becomeworker bees, and off to the side are cells housing drone bee larvae.

最下层是育婴室，两侧居住的是雄蜂幼虫。

Last, but certainly not least,special cells are set aside to shelter infant queen bees.

当然，特殊的蜂房是留给有着尊贵地位的蜂王的。

A typical nest has about 100,000 cells with a total surface area of about twenty-seven square feet.

标准的蜂巢有100,000个蜂房，连上表层大概有27平方英尺。

Most of the cells are used to store the more than forty pounds of honey required to feed a beecolony during the winter.

大多数蜂巢储存了40多英镑的蜂蜜足够整个蜜蜂家族度过整个冬天了。

They may not win any awards, but bees are clearly some of nature's most accomplished⁸ architects.

虽然，蜜蜂从未因此获奖。但是，它们无疑是大自然最杰出的建造师。

1 scout   

n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索

参考例句：

• He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。
• The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。

2 scouts   

侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员

参考例句：

• to join the Scouts 参加童子军
• The scouts paired off and began to patrol the area. 巡逻人员两个一组，然后开始巡逻这个地区。

3 resin   

n.树脂，松香，树脂制品；vt.涂树脂

参考例句：

• This allyl type resin is a highly transparent, colourless material.这种烯丙基型的树脂是一种高度透明的、无色材料。
• This is referred to as a thixotropic property of the resin.这种特性叫做树脂的触变性。

4 secreting   

v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的现在分词 )；隐匿，隐藏

参考例句：

• It is also an endocrine gland secreting at least two important hormones. 它也是一种内分泌腺，至少分泌二种重要的激素。 来自辞典例句
• And some calcite-secreting organisms also add magnesium to the mix. 有些分泌方解石的生物，会在分泌物中加入镁。 来自互联网

5 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

6 pollen   

n.[植]花粉

参考例句：

• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。

7 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。

8 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。