科学家发现了导致蝗虫聚群的化学物质

Scientists Identify Chemical that Causes Locusts to Swarm
科学家发现了导致蝗虫聚群的化学物质
Scientists say they have identified a chemical released by locusts that causes the insects to join together in huge swarms.
科学家称，他们发现并确认了蝗虫身上释放出的一种化学物质，正是这种化学物质导致蝗虫成群结队地聚集在一起。
On their own, locusts are mostly harmless. But in large swarms, they can be extremely destructive. The new finding could lead to new methods to prevent locusts from joining groups to destroy huge areas of crops.
蝗虫个体本身大多是无害的，但一旦形成大型群体它们的破坏力就会变得非常大。这项新发现或有助于找到防止蝗虫聚群的方法进而阻止它们大面积破坏农作物。
A recent study published in Nature identifies a pheromone believed to be responsible for the insect’s swarming behavior. A pheromone is a chemical substance produced by an animal that influences the behavior of another animal of the same kind.
最近发表在《自然》杂志上的一项研究表明，一种信息素或是导致这种昆虫聚群的原因。信息素是动物产生的一种化学物质，它能影响同类物种的行为。
The pheromone, known as 4VA, was found in the world’s most widespread kind of locust, the migratory locust. The chemical is released from the insect's back legs and is sensed by the antennae of other locusts.
这种信息素被称为4VA，是世界上分布最广的蝗虫——飞蝗体内发现的。这种化学物质从昆虫的后腿释放出来，并被其他蝗虫的触角感知。
The pheromone powerfully drew locusts of both sexes and all ages, the research found. The chemical was produced when as few as four to five locusts came together.
研究发现这种信息素能有效地吸引不同性别和年龄的蝗虫。这种化学物质在只有四到五只蝗虫聚集在一起便能产生。
Swarms can grow to billions of locusts and cover hundreds of square kilometers. Migratory locusts are found in Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They attack crops including wheat, rice, corn, oats and sugarcane. Such invasions can lead to major food shortages.
虫群可以聚群到数十亿只覆盖数百平方公里。亚洲、非洲、澳大利亚和新西兰都有蝗虫。它们侵害小麦、水稻、玉米、燕麦和甘蔗等作物。这种侵害会导致严重的粮食短缺问题。
Lead researcher Le Kang is with the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Zoology. He told Reuters news agency that migratory locusts are so widespread and dangerous, they represent “a serious threat to agriculture worldwide.”
首席研究员乐康是中国科学院动物研究所的研究员。他告诉路透社，蝗虫灾害影响非常广泛且危险，它们甚至象征着“对全世界农业的严重威胁”。
Kang said further research will be needed to find out if 4VA exists in other species, such as the desert locust. This locust is currently destroying crops in Africa and the Middle East.
康说，还需要进一步的研究来确认4VA这种信息素是否存在于其他物种中，比如沙漠蝗虫。这种蝗虫目前会摧毁非洲和中东的农作物。
Chemical substances commonly used to break up locust swarms raise concerns for human health and safety. The identification of 4VA could lead to new control methods.
人们对通常用来驱散蝗虫群的化学物质表示担忧，担忧其会影响人类的健康和安全。4VA信息素的确认可能引出新的控制虫灾的方法。
Kang said a chemical could be developed to block 4VA’s effects to prevent swarming. A manmade version of the pheromone might also be developed to lure locusts into traps to be killed.
康说或许可以发明一种化学物质来组织4VA发挥作用并阻止蝗虫聚群。一种人造的此类信息素也可以被用来引诱蝗虫使其进入陷阱并进行清除。
Locusts could also be developed with genetic changes that would not react to 4VA, Kang added. Such locusts could be released to establish wild non-swarming populations.
康还补充道，或许也可以通过改变蝗虫的基因使其不再对4VA产生反应。并将此类蝗虫放生去繁衍出不会聚群的蝗虫种群。
Leslie Vosshall is head of Rockefeller University's Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior in New York. She said one of the most exciting developments would be finding a chemical that could block the reception of 4VA.
莱斯利·沃斯霍尔是纽约洛克菲勒大学神经遗传学和行为实验室的负责人。她说，最令人兴奋的一个研发方向将是找到一种能阻断4VA信号接收的化学物质。
The discovery of such a molecule could provide a chemical to prevent swarms of the insects and “cause locusts to 'stand down' and return to their peaceful, solitary way of life," she wrote in a Nature article about the study.
她在《自然》杂志的一篇关于这项研究的文章中写道，这种分子的发现可以提供一种化学物质来阻止蝗虫成群，并“导致蝗虫‘消散开’，回归它们原本平静、孤独的生活”。
Vosshall noted that there are still several unknowns about the research. These include whether 4VA is the only cause of swarm formation, and whether other locust species respond similarly to the compound.
沃斯霍尔指出，关于这项研究还有一些未知数。其中包括4VA是否是导致蝗虫聚群的唯一原因，以及其他蝗虫物种是否对这种化合物有类似的反应。
I’m Bryan Lynn.
布莱恩·林恩报道。