蓄奴蟻的恐怖統治：英語精讀講義

Everything changed when the slaver nation attacked. 文化背景

當蓄奴國發動攻擊時，一切都改變了。

What used to be a thriving colony is now a captured country. 文法

曾經繁榮的蟻群如今成了被佔領的國度。

Slaves do the work,

奴隸們包攬了所有的工作，

serving their new masters until they die,

終生服侍他們的新主人直到死去，

only to be replaced by new victims harvested in brutal raids. 文法

只能被殘暴掠奪中收穫的新受害者所取代。

But let's go back to the beginning. 表達脈絡

但讓我們回到最初。

The World War of the ants is claiming millions of lives every day.

螞蟻的世界大戰每天都在奪去數以百萬計的生命。

But in the brutal world of ants,

但在殘酷的螞蟻世界裡，

straight up war is not the only way.

直接開戰並非唯一的手段。

Around 50 ant species practice slavery,

大約有50種螞蟻實行奴隸制，

the most extreme division of labor.

這是最極端的勞動分工。

We don't know how this began,

我們不知道這一切是如何開始的，

but some ant species perfected this cruel trade.

但一些螞蟻物種將這種殘酷的行當發展到了極致。

Meet Polyergus,

來認識一下 Polyergus，

the most intense of the slaver ant tribes.

蓄奴蟻部落中最極端的一種。

There are different species,

牠們分為不同的種類，

but generally they're 4 to 10 mm long

但體長通常在4到10毫米之間，

with brown to blackish bodies and sickle-shaped mandibles.

身體呈褐色或微黑色，長著鐮刀狀的大顎。

Polyergus has specialized in slavery so much that they've lost their ability to care for themselves.

Polyergus 在奴役方面如此專業化，以至於失去了照顧自己的能力。

They don't clean,

牠們不清理衛生，

build nests,

不築巢，

care for their brood,

不照顧幼蟲，

or feed themselves.

甚至不自己進食。

They only exist for raiding.

牠們只為掠奪而生。

Slaves make up 80 to 90% of the ants in their colonies, 片語動詞

奴隸佔其蟻群中螞蟻數量的80%到90%，

so a few hundred Polyergus and a single queen control thousands of slave ants.

因此幾百隻 Polyergus 和一隻蟻后就能控制數千隻奴隸蟻。

We'll summarize and simplify what we know about Polyergus into one grand story.

我們將關於 Polyergus 的已知資訊概括並簡化為一個宏大的故事。

You can find more information in our sources.

更多資訊可在我們的資料來源中找到。

So now,

現在，

let's witness the cruel banality of nature.

讓我們見證大自然殘酷的平庸。

The raid.

突襲。

It all begins on a mild summer morning on a sunny field. 表達脈絡

這一切都始於一個溫和夏日清晨陽光明媚的田野。

Witness this colony of over 10,000 Formica ants,

看看這個超過一萬隻 Formica 螞蟻的蟻群，

genetically cousins of Polyergus,

牠們在基因上是 Polyergus 的表親，

who build a thriving nest underground.

在地下建造了一個繁榮的巢穴。

They are a widespread genus.

牠們是一個分佈廣泛的屬。

Some species are good fighters,

有些種類是優秀的戰士，

some great builders,

有些是偉大的建築師，

and some cattle farmers,

還有些是畜牧農夫，

often welcomed by humans because they hunt vermin that hurt forests.

牠們經常受到人類的歡迎，因為牠們會捕食危害森林的害蟲。

Nobody noticed the lone Polyergus scout that briefly showed up this morning

沒有人注意到今天早上短暫出現的那隻孤零零的 Polyergus 偵察蟻，

before she bolted away again. 片語動詞

隨後她又迅速跑開了。

The attack begins in the early afternoon.

攻擊在午後初時開始。

The scout returned from her mission to find the Formica nests.

偵察蟻完成了尋找 Formica 巢穴的任務回來了。

She dances erratically and spreads pheromones that excite and mass recruit more and more ants

她跳著不規則的舞蹈並散發費洛蒙，這會讓越來越多的螞蟻興奮並大量聚集，

until a large raiding party of a thousand warrioresses has formed.

直到集結成一支由一千名女戰士組成的大型突擊隊。

A close-packed, well-organized column up to 10 m long begins to move. 片語搭配

一支密集、組織嚴密、長達10公尺的隊伍開始移動。

As the Polyergus raiding party arrives at the Formica colony,

當 Polyergus 突擊隊到達 Formica 蟻群時，

the attack begins almost immediately.

攻擊幾乎立刻就開始了。

Dozens of attackers begin digging and clearing up debris from the nest entrance

數十名攻擊者開始挖掘並清理巢穴入口的碎片，

to make it easier to storm.

以便更容易突入。

As soon as they're done, 文法

一旦完成，

hundreds of the attackers rush inside.

數百名攻擊者便衝了進去。

The defenders vastly outnumber their attackers

防禦者的數量遠遠超過攻擊者，

and are formidable warriors able to shoot acid.

且是能噴射蟻酸的強大戰士。

But instead of fighting back effectively, 片語動詞

但牠們非但沒有進行有效的反擊，

they seem confused and scatter rather than fighting back. 文法

反而顯得很混亂，並且四散逃跑。

Polyergus also seems to be somewhat resistant to the acid sprays of the defenders.

Polyergus 似乎也對防禦者噴射的蟻酸具有一定的抵抗力。

And so even if a defense is forming,

因此，即使防禦正在形成，

the attackers use their mandibles to pierce and kill.

攻擊者也能用大顎進行刺穿和殺戮。

There are a few different ideas as to why Polyergus attacks are so efficient, 片語搭配

關於為什麼 Polyergus 的攻擊如此高效，有幾種不同的看法，

and one of the most fascinating ones is chemical warfare.

其中最令人著迷的是化學戰。

Instead of relying on brute force, 慣用語

牠們不依靠蠻力，

they release a propaganda pheromone that makes the defenders panic,

而是釋放一種帶有宣傳意味的費洛蒙，使防禦者陷入恐慌，

unable to mount an organized defense. 片語搭配

無法組織起有效的防禦。

The attackers have nothing to gain from intense ant to ant combat, 文法

激烈的蟻群間肉搏戰對攻擊者毫無益處，

other than immense casualties.

只會造成巨大的傷亡。

What's more, 表達脈絡

更重要的是，

they actually want their victims to survive

牠們其實希望受害者能活下來，

so that they can be raided again in a few weeks.

以便幾週後再次進行掠奪。

As the raid unfolds,

隨著突襲的展開，

the attackers breach deep into the colony,

攻擊者深入蟻群，

looking for their most valuable possession,

尋找牠們最寶貴的財富，

the colony's babies.

即蟻群的幼蟲。

They grab the pupae and larvae that will make up the next generation of Formica

牠們抓住將構成下一代 Formica 的蛹和幼蟲，

and carry them out of the nest.

並將牠們帶出巢穴。

Hundreds are abducted and brought back to the Polyergus colony in this raid alone.

僅在這一次突襲中，就有數百隻被綁架並帶回 Polyergus 的巢穴。

Well, most of them.

嗯，大多數是這樣。

A few unlucky ones are eaten as a sort of snack.

少數倒楣的會被當成零食吃掉。

The surviving victims will be turned into slaves.

倖存的受害者將變成奴隸。

After about an hour,

大約一小時後，

the raid is over and the Formica can begin to recover.

突襲結束，Formica 可以開始恢復。

It seems their only strategy is to make even more ants.

似乎牠們唯一的策略就是繁育更多的螞蟻。

A decent-sized colony can forfeit thousands of pupae in a single raiding season and still survive.

一個規模適中的蟻群在一個突襲季內失去數千隻蛹仍能存活下來。

Although in this case,

儘管在這次事件中，

while the raid was going on,

在突襲進行的同時，

something even more sinister happened.

發生了一件更險惡的事情。

Hold that thought, though, 語氣意圖

先保留這個懸念，

because how are Polyergus turning ants into slaves?

因為 Polyergus 是如何將螞蟻變成奴隸的呢？

How to brainwash ant slaves.

如何給螞蟻奴隸洗腦。

Ants conquered almost the entire planet over 100 million years ago.

螞蟻在1億多年前幾乎征服了整個地球。

They owe their success to being social animals that perfected chemical communication. 片語搭配

牠們的成功歸功於牠們是完善了化學交流的社會性動物。

Chemical signals and cues let ants know what their colony needs

化學訊號和提示讓螞蟻知道牠們的蟻群需要什麼，

and what each individual should do.

以及每個個體應該做什麼。

And most importantly in this case,

在這種情況下最重要的是，

who is a friend or foe.

誰是朋友誰是敵人。

Slave-making ants are much less social than other ant species.

蓄奴蟻的社會性遠低於其他種類的螞蟻。

Some species miss a lot of the genes other ants have to make communication possible.

某些物種缺失了許多其他螞蟻用來實現交流的基因。

In a sense, 表達脈絡

從某種意義上說，

they are bad at talking to each other.

牠們不善於彼此溝通。

So it may be that as Polyergus ancestors started to abduct other ants, 文法

因此可能是在 Polyergus 的祖先開始綁架其他螞蟻時，

they lost the ability to collaborate and work together productively.

牠們失去了協作和富有成效地共同工作的能力。

Soon after the stolen Formica offspring have been brought to the slaver colony,

在被偷來的 Formica 後代被帶到蓄奴蟻巢穴後不久，

they are progressively covered in Polyergus pheromones.

牠們會被漸漸覆蓋上 Polyergus 的費洛蒙。

They are chemically imprinted,

牠們在化學上被打下了烙印，

similar to a duckling who imprints on its mother after birth.

類似於剛出生後對母親產生印記行為的小鴨子。

When the new slaves hatch,

當新奴隸孵化時，

they behave as though they are part of the Polyergus colony 文法

牠們的行為就好像自己是 Polyergus 蟻群的一部分，

and begin to work for them unconditionally,

開始無條件地為牠們工作，

keeping the nest clean,

保持巢穴清潔，

caring for the next generation of slaves and masters,

照顧下一代奴隸和主人，

hunting for food,

尋找食物，

and feeding their enslavers mouth-to-mouth.

甚至嘴對嘴地餵養奴役牠們的主人。

This sort of brainwashing goes so far that if they encounter free Formica ants in the wild, 文法

這種洗腦如此徹底，以至於如果在野外遇到自由的 Formica 螞蟻，

they will treat them as enemies.

牠們會把同類當成敵人。

In a sense,

從某種意義上說，

they're not true slaves as they serve willingly and show no interest in freedom.

牠們不是真正的奴隸，因為牠們自願服侍，對自由毫無興趣。

It's more like violent abduction and adoption,

這更像是暴力的綁架和收養，

which doesn't make things that much better. 文法

只是這並沒有讓情況變得好多少。

And as the Formica only live for a few months,

而且由於 Formica 只能活幾個月，

a constant new supply of victims is necessary.

就需要不斷有新的受害者補充進來。

To survive,

為了生存，

Polyergus can never stop enslaving.

Polyergus 永遠不能停止奴役。

How to make new slave colonies.

如何建立新的奴隸蟻群。

How are new Polyergus colonies created?

新的 Polyergus 蟻群是如何建立的？

After all, 表達脈絡

畢竟，

Polyergus workers are so useless that a queen can't start a new colony without slaves.

Polyergus 的工蟻毫無用處，沒有奴隸蟻后就無法建立新的蟻群。

But how does she make slaves without warriors?

但是沒有戰士她如何製造奴隸呢？

It turns out there are two main strategies. 表達脈絡

事實證明主要有兩種策略。

The more dangerous one might unfold during a raid like the one we witnessed before.

較危險的一種可能會在就像我們之前目睹的突襲中展開。

A young Polyergus queen silently follows the raiding party.

一隻年輕的 Polyergus 蟻后悄悄地跟在突擊隊後面。

Using the chaos of the invasion,

利用入侵的混亂，

she's able to find her way to the Formica queen and kill her,

她找到了 Formica 蟻后並將其殺死，

taking over the shaken colony. 片語動詞

接管了受到驚嚇的蟻群。

Although such a victory may be very short-lived.

儘管這樣的勝利可能非常短暫。

Polyergus do not tolerate other slaver colonies within their hunting ground.

Polyergus 不容忍其狩獵場內有其他的蓄奴蟻群。

They raid each other fiercely, too,

牠們也會互相激烈地劫掠，

and can destroy the competing colonies nearby.

並且會摧毀附近競爭的蟻群。

So while this tactic sometimes works, 文法

因此雖然這種戰術有時有效，

it is pretty dangerous.

但卻相當危險。

Another young queen is going for a different strategy. 片語搭配

另一隻年輕的蟻后採取了不同的策略。

She's looking for a Formica colony that is further from her birthplace,

她在尋找一個離她出生地更遠的 Formica 蟻群，

attacking a whole colony on her own. 片語搭配

單槍匹馬攻擊整個蟻群。

She bolts through an entrance,

她衝進一個入口，

pushing aside confused ants that try to stop her, 片語動詞

推開試圖阻止她、感到困惑的螞蟻，

releasing a powerful appeasement pheromone that drives defenders away. 片語動詞

釋放出一種強大的安撫費洛蒙，驅散防禦者。

She has only a short time window to find the Formica queen deep in the hostile nest. 片語搭配

她只有很短的時間窗口去深入充滿敵意的巢穴中尋找 Formica 蟻后。

Once she finds her target,

一旦找到目標，

both queens engage in a fight to the death. 片語搭配

兩隻蟻后就會展開殊死搏鬥。

The Polyergus queen is well equipped with her sharp mandibles. 片語搭配

Polyergus 蟻后裝備有鋒利的大顎。

She bites and rips into her victim for about half an hour 片語動詞

她撕咬受害者長達約半小時，

before she finally calms down.

最終平靜下來。

Between her bites,

在撕咬的間隙，

she licks the chemical surface of the dead Formica queen,

她舔舐死亡 Formica 蟻后體表的化學物質，

covering herself in her pheromones.

將對方的費洛蒙塗抹在自己身上。

When she's done with this macabre ritual,

當她完成這種令人毛骨悚然的儀式後，

Formica workers approach her.

Formica 工蟻向她靠近。

Subdued by her intense smells, 文法

被她強烈的氣味所屈服，

they start grooming and feeding her

牠們開始為她梳理毛髮並餵食，

as though pledging their allegiance to their new ruler.

彷彿在向新統治者宣誓效忠。

She still might not be done, though.

不過她可能還沒結束。

Formica colonies often have multiple queens

Formica 蟻群通常有多隻蟻后，

who all need to be defeated,

所有的蟻后都需要被擊敗，

which is not guaranteed.

這不是絕對有把握的。

Often, attacking queens will be stopped by a phalanx of workers

攻擊的蟻后經常會被成群的工蟻攔截，

that rip her apart or are defeated in royal battle.

被撕成碎片或在王室戰鬥中被擊敗。

But if she does manage to kill all the queens, 文法

但如果她確實成功殺死了所有的蟻后，

the colony has been taken over

這個蟻群就被接管了，

and the enslaved brood will begin to serve a new queen,

被奴役的後代將開始服侍新的蟻后，

the usurper.

也就是這位篡位者。

She now begins laying eggs that are cared for by her new slaves

現在她開始產卵，由她的新奴隸照顧，

until new Polyergus ants hatch

直到新的 Polyergus 螞蟻孵化，

that will soon start new raids on neighboring colonies.

牠們很快將對鄰近蟻群發動新的突襲。

No matter what we humans do, 文法

無論我們人類做什麼，

quietly below our feet,

在我們腳下靜悄悄的地方，

the World War of the ants is raging 慣用語

螞蟻的世界大戰正在肆虐，

with wild and horrible strategies

充斥著野蠻可怕的策略，

fought by billions of individuals every single day.

每天都有數十億個體在戰鬥。

Polyergus will continue to hunt for slaves

Polyergus 將繼續狩獵奴隸，

as to stop raiding would be their demise.

因為停止掠奪就意味著牠們的滅亡。

And in the War of the Ants,

而在這場螞蟻戰爭中，

there is no giving up. 片語動詞

永遠沒有放棄二字。