Koko News | 動物 | 27 Feb 2025

Rare Grasshopper Rediscovered in Virginia After Nearly 80 Years

Atinyflightlessgrasshopper, oncethoughttobeextinct, hasbeenspottedinVirginiaintheUSforthefirsttimeinnearly80 years.

一種不會飛的微型蚱蜢曾被認為已經滅絕，近 80 年來首次在美國維吉尼亞州被發現。

KnownastheAppalachiangrasshopper (Appalachia hebardi), itwaslastseeninVirginiabackin 1946.

這種生物被稱為阿巴拉契亞蚱蜢（Appalachia hebardi），最後一次出現在維吉尼亞州是在 1946 年。

Butnow, thankstoadeterminedzoologistwhohadahunchthattheymightstillbeoutthere, wenowknowtheinsecthasn'tcompletelydisappeared.

但現在，多虧一位堅定的動物學家預感到它們可能仍然存在，我們現在知道這種昆蟲並沒有完全消失。

TheAppalachiangrasshopperisverysmallandhasamazingcamouflage, makingithardtospot.

阿巴拉契亞蚱蜢體型非常小，而且具有出色的偽裝能力，很難被發現。

TheycanonlybefoundincertainplacesintheUSstatesofVirginia, Pennsylvania, andWestVirginiabefore.

以前它們只能在美國維吉尼亞州、賓夕法尼亞州和西維吉尼亞州的某些地方找到。

FordecadesnoonehadofficiallyseenitinVirginia, andmanythoughtitwasgoneforever.

幾十年來，沒有人在維吉尼亞州正式見過它，許多人認為它已經永遠消失了。

Butfollowingreportsfrommembersofthepubliconline, azoologistnamedAndrewRappsetoffonanadventuretofindone.

但在收到網路公眾的舉報後，一位名叫安德魯·拉普的動物學家開始了尋找它的冒險。

Andrew, whoworksattheVirginiaDepartmentofConservationandRecreation, exploreddifferentareaswherethegrasshoppermightbehiding.

維吉尼亞州自然保護和娛樂部工作人員安德魯探索了蚱蜢可能藏身的不同區域。

Aftermonthsofsearching, hefinallyspottedonewhilewalkingalongaroadinanareaknownasAugustaCounty.

經過數月的搜尋，他終於在奧古斯塔縣的一條道路上行走時發現了一頭這樣的牛。

"Iwaslookingforit," Rappsaidinaradiointerview. "Ilockedeyeswithit. AndIwaslike, 'Oh! Ithinkthat'sprobablyit!'"

「我一直在尋找它，」拉普在接受電台採訪時說道。 “我和它對視了一眼。然後我心想：’哦！我想可能就是它了！’”

TheAppalachiangrasshopperlivesinaveryspecificenvironment–youngopenforestswithtallgrassesandshrubs.

阿巴拉契亞蚱蜢生活在非常特殊的環境中——長滿高草和灌木的年輕疏鬆森林。

Unfortunately, asVirginia'sforestsgrowolder, thetypeofhabitattheyliketoliveinisdisappearing.

不幸的是，隨著維吉尼亞州的森林逐漸老化，它們喜歡棲息的棲息地類型正在消失。

Thegrasshoppersarealsoatriskfromcertainchemicalsusedtocontrolotherinsects, suchasthespongymothcaterpillarinWestVirginiaandPennsylvania.

蚱蜢也面臨著用於控制其他昆蟲（如西維吉尼亞州和賓夕法尼亞州的海綿蛾毛蟲）的某些化學物質的威脅。

Grasshoppersareinsects. Theyareknownfortheirstrongbacklegsthatallowthemtoleapgreatdistances.

蚱蜢是昆蟲。它們以強壯的後腿而聞名，這使得它們可以跳躍很遠的距離。

Somegrasshopperscanjumpupto20timestheirbodylength.

有些蚱蜢可以跳到其體長的20倍。

Theyaremainlyherbivores, meaningtheyeatplants. Theyfeedongrasses, leaves, andcrops, whichiswhytheycansometimesbeaproblemforfarmers.

它們主要以草食動物為主，也就是說它們吃植物。它們以草、樹葉和農作物為食，這就是為什麼它們有時會給農民帶來麻煩。

Occasionallytheymighteatotherinsectstoo.

有時它們也可能吃其他昆蟲。

ThemostcommonspeciesintheUKincludethecommongreengrasshopperandtheMeadowGrasshopper.

英國最常見的種類包括普通綠蚱蜢和草地蚱蜢。

Theseinsectscanbefoundingrassyareaslikegardens.

這些昆蟲可以在花園等草地上找到。

A tiny flightless grasshopper, once thought to be extinct, has been spotted in Virginia in the US for the first time in nearly 80 years.

Known as the Appalachian grasshopper (Appalachia hebardi), it was last seen in Virginia back in 1946.

But now, thanks to a determined zoologist who had a hunch that they might still be out there, we now know the insect hasn't completely disappeared.

The Appalachian grasshopper is very small and has amazing camouflage, making it hard to spot.

They can only be found in certain places in the US states of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia before.

For decades no one had officially seen it in Virginia, and many thought it was gone forever.

But following reports from members of the public online, a zoologist named Andrew Rapp set off on an adventure to find one.

Andrew, who works at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, explored different areas where the grasshopper might be hiding.

After months of searching, he finally spotted one while walking along a road in an area known as Augusta County.

"I was looking for it," Rapp said in a radio interview. "I locked eyes with it. And I was like, 'Oh! I think that's probably it!'"

The Appalachian grasshopper lives in a very specific environment – young open forests with tall grasses and shrubs.

Unfortunately, as Virginia's forests grow older, the type of habitat they like to live in is disappearing.

The grasshoppers are also at risk from certain chemicals used to control other insects, such as the spongy moth caterpillar in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Grasshoppers are insects. They are known for their strong back legs that allow them to leap great distances.

Some grasshoppers can jump up to 20 times their body length.

They are mainly herbivores, meaning they eat plants. They feed on grasses, leaves, and crops, which is why they can sometimes be a problem for farmers.

Occasionally they might eat other insects too.

The most common species in the UK include the common green grasshopper and the Meadow Grasshopper.

These insects can be found in grassy areas like gardens.