【转帖】中国发现昆虫新物种，其翼展宽达8英寸

原创翻译：龙腾网 http://www.ltaaa.com 翻译：龙腾小少爷 转载请注明出处
论坛地址：http://www.ltaaa.com/bbs/thread-305565-1-1.html
The stuff of nightmares! New species ofinsect discovered in China - and it has a wingspan of more than EIGHT INCHES

噩梦般的事物！中国发现昆虫新物种，其翼展宽达8英寸

A newly discovered member of theMegaloptera family has been found that could be the largest aquatic insect inthe world.

新发现的这种广翅目类物种可能是世界上最大的水生昆虫。

It was found on a mountain in Chengdu,Sichuan province in China.

这种昆虫被发现于成都的一处山头。

The mysterious specimen of which little isknown has a wingspan of 8.3 inches (21 centimetres).

这种鲜为人知的神秘物种翼展达到了8.3英寸，也就是21厘米。

The family of Megaloptera includes about 300 species of fishflies, dobsonfliesand alderflies.

广翅目类昆虫在种类上有300种，包括鱼蛉类，蛇蜻蜓类，以及蜻蜓科的昆虫类。

The name Megaloptera describes that insectshave large (megal) wings (ptera) compared to their bodies

从广翅目这个名字中我们就可以看出与身体相比这种昆虫拥有巨大的翅膀。

And this latest find is no exception, dwarfing other such insects of the order.

而最新发现的这只在展翼宽度上也确实比之前发现的要大。

According to Scientific American members of the Megaloptera family arenot well known.

根据《科学美国人》杂志的说法，广翅目类昆虫并非为人所熟知。

When they are larvae they spend a lot oftime out of sight in the water, only leaving when they pupate and they becomeadults.

当它们还是幼虫时，一般都生活在水下，不会被人们观察到，只有在他们化蛹成虫后才离开水里。

They can be found in or near a variety ofwet environments including ponds, lakes and swamps.

一般可以在潮湿环境的附近找到它们，包括水塘，湖泊以及湿地。

The huge mandibles at the front of theinsect, meanwhile, are not used for eating but rather to attract females andhold them in place during mating.

而这种昆虫前部的下颚骨并非用来吃东西的，而是用来吸引雌性并且在交配时起稳定作用的。

The species is also known for its ferociousbite, which can break human skin.

这种物种也以其惊人的咬力闻名，可以咬破人体皮肤。

Megaloptera insects typically live for onlya few days as adults, so many will spend there few days of adulthood mating,producing new larvae to grow underwater.

这种昆虫成年后一般只有几天的寿命，而他们中的很多都会利用这几天来进行交配，产生新的幼虫在水下等待孵化。

With a wingspan 8.3 inches (21centimetres), this species breaks the previous record holder for largestaquatic insect, the South American helicopter 
 

damselfly, which has a wingspanof 7.5 inches (19 centimetres).

展翼达到21厘米，打破了先前最大水生昆虫所创造的记录，也就是南美的大痣蟌，其翼展达到19厘米。