它們又回來了:預計今年會出現(xiàn)數(shù)百萬只蟬

它們又回來了:預計今年會出現(xiàn)數(shù)百萬只蟬

In parts of southwestern Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia, it's nearly time for a brood of the insects to emerge for their once-in-17-year mating season. As many as 1.5 million cicadas could emerge per acre. And did we mention the bugs are known for their distinct — and overwhelming — chirping?

在維吉尼亞州西南部、北卡羅來納州和西弗吉尼亞州的部分地區(qū)，幾乎到了17年一次的交配季節(jié)，一窩昆蟲出現(xiàn)的時候了。每畝地可能出現(xiàn)多達150萬只蟬。我們有沒有提到過這些昆蟲以其獨特的、壓倒性的鳴叫而聞名?

"Communities and farms with large numbers of cicadas emerging at once may have a substantial noise issue," predicts Eric Day of Virginia Tech's department of entomology. He tells Virginia Tech Daily, "Hopefully, any annoyance at the disturbance is tempered by just how infrequent — and amazing — this event is."

“同時出現(xiàn)大量蟬的社區(qū)和農(nóng)場可能存在嚴重的噪音問題，”弗吉尼亞理工大學昆蟲學系的埃瑞克·戴預測說。他在接受《弗吉尼亞理工日報》采訪時表示:“希望這一事件的罕見性和驚人性能夠緩和人們對這一事件的不滿。”

Periodical cicadas — unlike annual cicadas — emerge every 13 or 17 years, depending on the species. Brood IX, as this grouping is dubbed, last emerged in 2003.

周期性蟬與一年生蟬不同，它們每13年或17年出現(xiàn)一次，具體時間取決于物種。這一群體被稱為第9窩，最后一次出現(xiàn)是在2003年。

Virginia Tech Daily notes that the 13-year or 17-year timing of cicada breeding cycles is still something of a mystery.

《弗吉尼亞理工大學日報》指出，蟬的繁殖周期是13年還是17年仍然是個謎。

The insects spend a majority of their lives underground, in an immature "nymph" state.

這些昆蟲大部分時間生活在地下，處于不成熟的“蛹”狀態(tài)。

Their timing isn't always exact. Some periodical cicadas have been seen years early; climate change may be a cause. Once they're done, they die within a few weeks.

他們的時機并不總是準確的。一些蟬在幾年前就出現(xiàn)了;氣候變化可能是一個原因。一旦完成，幾周內(nèi)就會死亡。