大水蛾为什么在要下大雨的时候飞来飞去的? _为什么

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与有些人可能认为的情况相反的是，蛾类一旦打湿了并非完全没有希望。的确，它们更愿意保持干爽。一只干爽的蛾子更敏捷，能够更好地避开捕食者。不过，如果它们碰巧沾上了几滴水，对于它们来说也并非末日。

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 （编者按：疑似作者‘world’的笔误）for them if they happen to get a few drops of water on them.

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马达加斯加月亮蛾 ***
只要它们的翅膀完好无损，蛾子就仍然能够飞来飞去。因此，主要的问题是，飞蛾在暴风雨中要尽量避免冰雹或强风损害它们的翅膀。在昆虫世界中，一只不会飞的蛾子基本上就是一只死蛾子；以虫子为食的动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。这将确保它们在多数降雨时以及在和水的短暂接触中得以生存。
As mentioned before a moth can easily repel small amounts of water. This will secure survival during most precipitations and short watery contacts.
如果水的影响增加，生存将变得更困难。蛾类长时间在水下或长时间游泳将会失去飞行能力。水分子会粘在它身上，使它变得非常脆弱。它必须先晾干翅膀才能继续飞行。
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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（像大多数动物一样）蛾类确实需要摄入水分来生存，但和我们习惯的传统方式不同。蛾类并不直接喝河水或水坑里的水；作为成虫，它们也不需要大量的水。

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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条纹长尾蛾（西班牙月蛾） ***
但它们的确需要一定量的液体来维持其正常的身体机能。它们通过吸收果汁或花蜜获得水分；在别无选择的情况下，有的甚至以动物的粪便作为水源。
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，一丁点儿液体对它们来说就足够了，成蛾不会浪费很多时间寻找食物。很多蛾类可能在它们的整个成虫阶段甚至什么都不吃。因此，成虫主要依赖于它们在毛毛虫时（即：它们的幼虫阶段）摄取的食物为生。
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.
【大水蛾为什么在要下大雨的时候飞来飞去的?】那些确实需要食物的蛾类，只饮用食物，而不咀嚼食物。事实上，大多数蛾类没有适合咀嚼的口器；因此，它们根本无法啃咬。它们的食物由液体或半流质材料组成，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.
蛾类甚至不以我们预料的方式喝水。它们无法将水吸进嘴里（当然也不能吸入浓稠的花蜜）。它们将口器放在液体上，在毛细血管的作用下，一直等到液体分子流进它们的嘴里。
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.
蛾类幼虫食欲惊人。它们几乎什么都吃，从真正的食物材料到羊毛、丝绸和亚麻制品等合成物质。因此，即使作为一只毛毛虫，蛾子也不会去寻找活水，而是依赖其他食物材料来满足它们对液体的需求。
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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这取决于它们身体的水分平衡状态。很多种蛾类成虫后只能活几个星期，因此，如果它们在这段时间内有足够的液体储备，它们就能不喝任何东西而生存。

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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瑰色枫叶蛾 ***
正如我们之前所提到的，蛾类会从花蜜或动物的粪便中获取水分，因此，它们不需要直接、干净的水源。
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.
现在，有些种的蛾子严重依赖水生环境而生存。它们已经适应了这种条件，因此，能够在水下生活和繁殖。对于它们而言，水是它们生活的一个重要组成部分，因为它们的食物来源于水栖藻类和植物。
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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蛾类和其他类似昆虫不溶于水。和地球上其他的飞行生物相比，它们的身体可能很脆弱，但并没有那么的脆弱。它们也拥有碳基骨骼和外表，而碳基物质不是最易溶于水的。

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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枯球螺纹蛾 ***
现在，如果你要触摸一只蛾子的翅膀，你可能会觉得有东西脱落并粘在你的皮肤上。这或许会让你产生一种错觉，以为这种生物的情况正在变糟。但那种灰尘般的或颗粒状的物质不过是我们之前提到过的细小的鳞片或毛发。
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.
这些鳞片非常松散地附着在蛾子身上。因此，它们很容易脱落。事实上，蛾子飞来飞去时，或者撞到东西时，鳞片都会脱落。如果一只蛾子在水里游泳，鳞片脱落了，可能会给人一种它正在溶解的（错误）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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水生蛾类会在水下产卵，它们通常会将卵产在植物上或任何其他能够提供充分保护的地方。其他所有种的蛾子都会在干燥的环境中，如树叶下、缝隙或裂缝中产卵。

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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水生蛾的成虫寿命不长。它们的主要目的是寻找一个配偶，使它们的基因能够得到继承。成虫需要保持干爽，但大部分时间会在水生栖息地周围徘徊。找到配偶后，它们会回到水中，在气膜或气泡的帮助下，潜入深水中产卵。
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.
现在，请记住：水生蛾类是你通常会见到的大多数蛾类的例外。一般的蛾子会待在干燥的地方，在树上或树叶背面产卵。因此，蛾类在水下产卵是很罕见的，但确实有。
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.
蛾类及其与水和雨的关系仍然是许多科学家感兴趣的研究领域。理解它们的关系不仅有助于我们保护昆虫群体的多样性，还可以通过帮助我们开发更好的工具来造福人类。
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/