60秒科学:Pick the World's Ugliest Insect

Pick the World's Ugliest Insect

Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University want your vote at askabiologist.asu.edu/uglybugs to help them crown the ugliest insect in the world. Adam Hinterthuer reports

Will you pick “Sweetness” or “The Gollywhopper?” “The Hammer” or “Stretch?” Those are all nicknames for some ugly insects. And by choosing, you’ll help Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University crown the ugliest insect in the world. Now in its second year online, the contest pits ten unattractive insects against one another.

Amazing up-close mugshots come with informational tidbits like “sucks plant juices” and “stings can be fatal.” The Ugly Bug¹ contest is hosted by A.S.U.’s “Ask A Biologist” program, which attempts to get the university’s science out into the world. But not so far that you’d need an exterminator³.

The roundup of rogues⁴ includes an ant that snags prey⁵ by leaping into the air and leaf-footed bugs² that secrete⁶ nasty juices to ward⁷ off predators⁸. In 2008, the lowly tick won by a landslide⁹. This year it appears that “Stretch” the snakefly is running away with the competition. But polls are open until December 15th and nothing is final until all the votes are in. Memo to the snakefly—don’t count your larvae til they’ve metamorphosized
 

1 bug   

n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器

参考例句：

• There is a bug in the system.系统出了故障。
• The bird caught a bug on the fly.那鸟在飞行中捉住了一只昆虫。

2 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 exterminator   

n.扑灭的人，害虫驱除剂

参考例句：

• You're an exterminator charged with examining a house for bugs. 您装满了杀虫剂准备清除屋里的臭虫。 来自互联网
• Finally, the sparrow was shot by an exterminator with an air rifle. 最后，这只闯祸的麻雀被人用气枪击毙。 来自互联网

4 rogues   

n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽

参考例句：

• 'I'll show these rogues that I'm an honest woman,'said my mother. “我要让那些恶棍知道，我是个诚实的女人。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• The rogues looked at each other, but swallowed the home-thrust in silence. 那些恶棍面面相觑，但只好默默咽下这正中要害的话。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

5 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

6 secrete   

vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘

参考例句：

• The pores of your body secrete sweat.身上的毛孔分泌汗液。
• Squirrels secrete a supply of nuts for winter.松鼠为准备过冬而藏坚果。

7 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

8 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。