大水蛾為什么在要下大雨的時候飛來飛去的? _為什么

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與有些人可能認為的情況相反的是，蛾類一旦打濕了并非完全沒有希望。的確，它們更愿意保持干爽。一只干爽的蛾子更敏捷，能夠更好地避開捕食者。不過，如果它們碰巧沾上了幾滴水，對于它們來說也并非末日。

Can a Moth Survive If It Gets Wet?

Contrary to what some may believe, a moth is not completely hopeless once it gets wet. Yes, they would much rather prefer to remain dry. And a dried-up moth is much more agile and able to avoid predators better. But it is not the end of the word （編者按：疑似作者‘world’的筆誤）for them if they happen to get a few drops of water on them.

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馬達加斯加月亮蛾 ***
只要它們的翅膀完好無損，蛾子就仍然能夠飛來飛去。因此，主要的問題是，飛蛾在暴風雨中要盡量避免冰雹或強風損害它們的翅膀。在昆蟲世界中，一只不會飛的蛾子基本上就是一只死蛾子；以蟲子為食的動物可以很容易就抓住它并吃掉它。
As long as their wings are intact, moths will still be able to fly about. So, the main issue that the insects try to avoid is getting their wings damaged by hail or strong winds during a storm. In the insect world, a flightless moth is essentially a dead moth. Animals that eat bugs as part of their diet can easily catch these moths and eat them.
如前所述，蛾子很容易就能排斥少量的水。這將確保它們在多數降雨時以及在和水的短暫接觸中得以生存。
As mentioned before a moth can easily repel small amounts of water. This will secure survival during most precipitations and short watery contacts.
如果水的影響增加，生存將變得更困難。蛾類長時間在水下或長時間游泳將會失去飛行能力。水分子會粘在它身上，使它變得非常脆弱。它必須先晾干翅膀才能繼續飛行。
This will become more difficult if the influence of the water increases. A moth put underwater or swimming for a prolonged time will lose its ability to fly. Water molecules will stick to the body and make the insect very vulnerable. It has to dry its wings first before it can continue to fly.

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（像大多數動物一樣）蛾類確實需要攝入水分來生存，但和我們習慣的傳統方式不同。蛾類并不直接喝河水或水坑里的水；作為成蟲，它們也不需要大量的水。

Do Moths Drink Water?

Moths do intake water to survive (like most animals) but not in the traditional method we are used to. Moths do not directly drink water from rivers or a puddle. They also do not need a huge amount of water as an adult.

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條紋長尾蛾（西班牙月蛾） ***
但它們的確需要一定量的液體來維持其正常的身體機能。它們通過吸收果汁或花蜜獲得水分；在別無選擇的情況下，有的甚至以動物的糞便作為水源。
But they do need some amount of liquid to maintain their normal bodily functions. And they get this water from absorbing things such as nectar or juices from fruits. Some even resort to animal droppings for their source of water.
通常，一丁點兒液體對它們來說就足夠了，成蛾不會浪費很多時間尋找食物。很多蛾類可能在它們的整個成蟲階段甚至什么都不吃。因此，成蟲主要依賴于它們在毛毛蟲時（即：它們的幼蟲階段）攝取的食物為生。
And usually, this little amount of liquid is enough for them. Adult moths do not waste much time searching for food. A lot of them may even spend their entire adult life without consuming anything. Hence, they mostly depend on the food they intake when they were a caterpillar I.e., their larval stage.
【大水蛾為什么在要下大雨的時候飛來飛去的?】那些確實需要食物的蛾類，只飲用食物，而不咀嚼食物。事實上，大多數蛾類沒有適合咀嚼的口器；因此，它們根本無法啃咬。它們的食物由液體或半流質材料組成，不需要咀嚼就可以直接消化。
Those species that do need food, will only drink it rather than eating it with their mouth. In fact, most moths do not have proper mouthparts for mastication and so, they are unable to bite at all. So, their diet is composed of entirely liquid or semi-liquid materials that can be digested directly, without the need for chewing.
蛾類甚至不以我們預料的方式喝水。它們無法將水吸進嘴里（當然也不能吸入濃稠的花蜜）。它們將口器放在液體上，在毛細血管的作用下，一直等到液體分子流進它們的嘴里。
Moths even don’t drink the way we expect. They can’t suck water into their mouth (and certainly not thick nectar). They use capillary action by holding their mouthparts onto the fluid and waiting until the molecules climb into their mouth.
蛾類幼蟲食欲驚人。它們幾乎什么都吃，從真正的食物材料到羊毛、絲綢和亞麻制品等合成物質。因此，即使作為一只毛毛蟲，蛾子也不會去尋找活水，而是依賴其他食物材料來滿足它們對液體的需求。
As a larva, moths have a staggering appetite. They will consume pretty much anything, from actual food materials to synthetic substances such as wool, silk, and linen. So, even as a caterpillar, moths do not seek out active sources of water. Rather they depend on other food materials to fulfill their liquid requirements.

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這取決于它們身體的水分平衡狀態。很多種蛾類成蟲后只能活幾個星期，因此，如果它們在這段時間內有足夠的液體儲備，它們就能不喝任何東西而生存。

Can Moths Survive Without Water?

This depends on the state of their body’s water balance. Many varieties of moths only live for a few weeks as an adult. So, if they have plenty of liquid in the reserve for that duration, they can survive without drinking anything.

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瑰色楓葉蛾 ***
正如我們之前所提到的，蛾類會從花蜜或動物的糞便中獲取水分，因此，它們不需要直接、干凈的水源。
As we already mentioned, they will get their water from nectars or animal feces. So, they do not need a direct, clean source of water.
現在，有些種的蛾子嚴重依賴水生環境而生存。它們已經適應了這種條件，因此，能夠在水下生活和繁殖。對于它們而言，水是它們生活的一個重要組成部分，因為它們的食物來源于水棲藻類和植物。
Now, some species of moths heavily rely on an aquatic environment to survive. They have adapted to such conditions and as such, are capable of living and breeding underwater. For them, water is an important part of their life, as they get food from water-dwelling algae and vegetation.

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蛾類和其他類似昆蟲不溶于水。和地球上其他的飛行生物相比，它們的身體可能很脆弱，但并沒有那么的脆弱。它們也擁有碳基骨骼和外表，而碳基物質不是最易溶于水的。

Do Moths Dissolve in Water?

Moths and other similar insects do not dissolve in water. They may have a frail body compared to other flying creatures on this planet, but they are not that fragile. They too possess a carbon-based skeleton and exterior. And carbon-based substances are not the easiest to dissolve in water.

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枯球螺紋蛾 ***
現在，如果你要觸摸一只蛾子的翅膀，你可能會覺得有東西脫落并粘在你的皮膚上。這或許會讓你產生一種錯覺，以為這種生物的情況正在變糟。但那種灰塵般的或顆粒狀的物質不過是我們之前提到過的細小的鱗片或毛發。
Now, if you were to touch a moth’s wing, you might feel part of it coming off and sticking on your skin. This might give you the illusion that the creature is deteriorating. But that dusty or grainy substance is nothing more than the tiny scales or hairs we mentioned before.
這些鱗片非常松散地附著在蛾子身上。因此，它們很容易脫落。事實上，蛾子飛來飛去時，或者撞到東西時，鱗片都會脫落。如果一只蛾子在水里游泳，鱗片脫落了，可能會給人一種它正在溶解的（錯誤）印象。
These scales are very loosely attached to the moth’s body. So, they come off very easily. In fact, moths can shed their scales just by flying around and bumping into things. If a moth loses them while swimming in the water, this might give the (wrong) impression of a dissolving moth.

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水生蛾類會在水下產卵，它們通常會將卵產在植物上或任何其他能夠提供充分保護的地方。其他所有種的蛾子都會在干燥的環境中，如樹葉下、縫隙或裂縫中產卵。

Do Moths Lay Eggs on Water?

Aquatic moths will lay their eggs underwater, typically on vegetation or any other spots that can provide adequate protection. All other species will lay their eggs in a dry environment under leaves, in cracks, or in crevices.

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水生蛾的成蟲壽命不長。它們的主要目的是尋找一個配偶，使它們的基因能夠得到繼承。成蟲需要保持干爽，但大部分時間會在水生棲息地周圍徘徊。找到配偶后，它們會回到水中，在氣膜或氣泡的幫助下，潛入深水中產卵。
Adult aquatic moths do not live for much longer. Their main purpose is to find a mate so that they can continue their heritage. Adults need to stay dry but will hang around aquatic habitats for the most part. After finding a mate, the moth will return to the water. With the help of plastrons or air pockets, they dive into the depths and lay their eggs.
現在，請記住：水生蛾類是你通常會見到的大多數蛾類的例外。一般的蛾子會待在干燥的地方，在樹上或樹葉背面產卵。因此，蛾類在水下產卵是很罕見的，但確實有。
Now, remember that aquatic moths are sort of the exception to most of the moths you will commonly witness. The average moth will remain in dry areas and lay its eggs on trees or underneath foliage. So, moth eggs underwater are rare but it is something that happens.
蛾類及其與水和雨的關系仍然是許多科學家感興趣的研究領域。理解它們的關系不僅有助于我們保護昆蟲群體的多樣性，還可以通過幫助我們開發更好的工具來造福人類。
Moths and their relation to water and rain continue to be an intriguing area of research for many scientists. And understanding this relationship will not only help us protect this diverse group of insects but also benefit mankind by helping us develop better tools.
原文：***/moths-water-rain/