[国家地理]大自然中的精美艺术品——昆虫卵.doc

[国家地理]大自然中的精美艺术品——昆虫卵
昆虫为生存而精心设计的卵，就挂在它们的父母存放它们的地方孵化。
本故事涉及的虫卵直径为0.7毫米至2毫米。以下图片是用扫描电子显微镜，利用电子光束跟踪物体表面制作而成。由此拍摄出的黑白图像经着色后反映出虫卵的自然外观。
1.Julia heliconian butterfly egg

1.茱莉亚蝴蝶卵
Dryas iulia
Perched on the tendril of a Passiflora plant, the egg of the Julia heliconian butterfly may be safe from hungry ants. This species lays its eggs almost exclusively on this plant's twisted vines.
这枚茱莉亚蝴蝶卵栖息于一棵西番莲卷须上，也许能躲过饥饿的蚂蚁。这个物种差不多只把卵产在这种植物扭曲的藤上。
2.Stinkbug eggs

2.臭虫卵
Pentatomidae
Stinkbugs often lay their eggs in clumps. Individual eggs are glued not only to each other but also to the leaf on which they are left. The delicate projections may aid, like snorkels, in respiration.
臭虫常常成簇地产卵。单个卵不仅相互粘附，而且粘在父母留下它们的叶子上。卵上微小的突起物也许像通气管一样帮助呼吸。
3.Owl butterfly egg

3.猫头鹰蝶卵
Caligo memnon
The mosaic pattern on an owl butterfly egg looks like a landing pad. At the center is a minute opening, called a micropyle, through which the sperm enters the egg.
猫头鹰蝶卵上嵌花式图案看上去好像停机坪。它的中央有个微小的开口，称为卵孔，精子通过这个孔进入卵内。
4.Blue morpho butterfly egg

4.蓝色大闪蝶卵
Morpho peleidesThe red band signals a chemical reaction that follows fertilization. Inside the egg is the germ of a blue morpho, one of the world's largest butterflies, with a wingspan of five to eight inches.卵上的红带表示卵受精后的化学反应。卵内是蓝色大闪蝶的胚芽。它是世界上最大的蝴蝶，翼幅长达五至八英寸。
5.Adonis blue butterfly egg

5.欧洲小灰蝶卵
Lysandra bellargus
The Adonis blue butterfly is rare because it's choosy. It lays its eggs (like the one above) only on horseshoe vetch, a European perennial. What's more, it looks for patches cropped by rabbits that allow easy landing.
欧洲小灰蝶很罕见，因为它很讲究。它只在欧洲多年生植物马蹄野豌豆上产卵（如上图）。更重要的是，它要寻找被兔子咬掉的能轻易着陆的叶片。
6.Red lacewing butterfly egg

6.红锯蛱蝶卵
Cethosia biblis
On this butterfly egg, the lacy pattern marks the micropyle, where sperm enters. A similar design appears on the scaly wings that gave the red lacewing butterfly its name.
在这种蝴蝶卵上，花边图案表示精子进入的卵孔。这种红锯蛱蝶带鳞的翅膀上也有同样的图案，它因此得名。
7.Dingy skipper egg

7.星列弄蝶卵
Erynnis tages
The egg of the dingy skipper is laid on bird's-foot trefoil. As its name suggests, the grown butterfly, found throughout Europe and in parts of Asia, is not known for its beauty.
星列弄蝶的卵产在鸟趾豆上。在欧洲各地和亚洲部分地区都能找到这种蝴蝶。如它的名字一样，它并非因美丽而闻名。（译注：其英文名称 dingy skipper中的dingy为昏暗的意思。）
8.Large white butterfly egg

8.大白蝶卵
Pieris brassicae
The yellow eggs of the large white butterfly are laid in clumps on the undersides of cabbage leaves (above) and brussels sprouts.
大白蝶黄色的卵成簇地产在卷心菜叶（上）和球芽甘蓝阴暗面。
9.Zebra longwing butterfly egg

9.斑马蝴蝶卵
Heliconius charithonia
The orange hue of this zebra longwing butterfly egg may warn predators: "Eat me if you dare." The threat would not be idle. The egg contains cyanide and other toxins ingested by adults from the plants they eat.
斑马蝴蝶卵的桔色调也许是警告捕食者：“你敢吃我。”这种威胁并非没有意义。这种卵含有氰化物和由成年蝴蝶从它们吃的植物中摄取的其它有毒物质。