超自然（2022）

but at least they already know they have the right chemistry.
这都要感谢红娘树的神秘力量
All thanks to the mysterious power of a matchmaking tree.
地表之下
Beneath the surface,
再往南一些
further south,
另一种动物也依靠树木的力量
another animal also taps into the power of trees
在交♥配♥游戏中取胜
to help win the mating game.
这种周期蝉
This periodical cicada
在超过16年的时间里 要靠北美弗吉尼亚州
has been feeding from tree roots in the North American forests of Virginia
森林树木根部的营养生存
for more than 16 years.
在第17个春天时
When he registers the spring sap beginning to flow
当它注意到春天的树脂开始流出
for the 17th season,
它就知道该到地面上去了
he knows it's time to surface.
这种奇迹般的计数能力 可以让它得到最好的繁衍机会
This numerical marvel has calculated his best chances of breeding.
但成功率仍然无法保证
Still, there are no guarantees.
行动迟缓
Sluggish,
美味多汁
and juicy,
蝉很容易成为其他动物的目标
cicadas are an easy target,
甚至包括行动最慢的捕食性动物
even for the slowest predator.
但它们又一次利用数量的优势
But once again, they have numbers on their side.
令人惊异的是 每个蝉群都会把它们的
Incredibly, each cicada population synchronizes their lives
生活日程同步为一个17年的周期
to a precise 17year schedule,
这是一个不可预计的 非常理想的数字周期
an unpredictable prime number cycle
捕食性动物几乎根本不可能
that makes it almost impossible for predators
指望靠捕猎它们进食
to count on this glut of prey.
几百万只蝉同时爬上地面
Millions of them, all emerging at the same time,
这是最大规模的集体出动
and this is the biggest emergence of all,
被称为X族群
known as Brood X.
它们必须很快完成繁殖 仅仅六周之内 它们就会死去
They must reproduce fast. In just six weeks, they'll all be dead.
美洲最大规模的速配活动就要开始了
America's biggest speed dating event is about to begin.
但首先 先要来个华丽变身
But first, an amazing transformation.
天色破晓时
By the time day breaks,
蛹化为成虫
nymphs have become adults,
准备好吸引配偶
ready to attract a mate.
通过摩擦它们身体侧面的特殊器官
Rubbing special organs on their sides
发出一种奇怪的嗡嗡声
makes a strange, buzzing sound,
它们身体中空 能将声音放大
which their hollow bodies amplify.
这种求爱的呼唤 声音大到就像是一场摇滚音乐会
The call for love rings out as loud as a rock concert.
但并不是所有回应的蝉都值得欢迎
But not all who respond are quite as welcome.
一只僵尸蝉
A zombie cicada,
身上被一种名叫团孢霉的菌类植物 粉末状的孢子打了很多小洞
riddled with the powderlike spores of a fungus called Massospora.
这是唯一可以 破坏周期蝉17年轮回的敌人
The only enemy to crack the periodical cicada's 17year code.
这种菌类植物会从内部吃掉猎物
This fungal body snatcher eats its victims from the inside...
把控制意识的化学成分 注入它们的大脑
while flooding their brains with mindcontrolling chemicals
然后迫使它们与其他蝉交流
that compel them to mingle.
受到感染的雄性甚至会模仿 雌性发出诱惑性的敲击声
Infected males even mimic the seductive flicks of females
引诱其他雄性来交♥配♥
to entice others to mate.
然后感染就蔓延开来
And so the contagion spreads.
菌类植物会让猎物活着
The fungus keeps its victims alive
这样就可以感染尽可能多的蝉
so they infect as many other cicadas as possible,
将它的孢子传播得更远更广泛
and spread its spores far and wide.
最后 14天之后
Finally, 14 days later...
僵尸蝉死了
the zombie cicadas die.
但孢子会蛰伏起来等待17年
The spores, however, will lie in wait for 17 years,
准备潜入下一代不幸的蝉体内
ready to infiltrate the next generation of unlucky cicadas.
但有几百万只同时在交♥配♥
But with millions mating,
每只雌性可以在树干上产卵四百个
and with each female laying 400 eggs into the tree's bark,
这种令人惊讶的数量可以保证
such mindboggling strength in numbers ensures periodicals cicadas
周期蝉可以一直繁衍下去
are always able to multiply.
对某些动物来说 想要交♥配♥成功 就要做长远打算
For some animals, mating success is about playing the long game.
在东南亚的一座珊瑚礁上
On a coral reef in Southeast Asia,
有一种生物利用神秘的诱惑力
one creature uses mysterious powers of seduction
将伴侣控制在自己的魔咒之下
to keep her partner under her spell.
雌性斑虾蜕壳后
Female harlequin shrimps can only mate for a brief time
只能交♥配♥很短的时间
after they shed their skin.
而蜕壳要每三周才有一次
And that happens only every three weeks.
它需要做好准备
She needs to prepare.
它可以产下健康后代的最好机会
And her best chance of having healthy offspring
就是尽可能地多吃
is to eat as much as possible.
海星行动缓慢 富含大量蛋白质
Slowmoving and packed with protein,
是它最喜欢的猎物
sea stars are her favorite prey.
但进入它柔软的身体下面很不容易
But getting to it's soft underside, that's hard.
海星的体积是它的十倍大 靠自己很难完成
Ten times her size, it's hard to handle on her own.
幸好帮手总是在不远的地方
Thankfully, help is never far away.
就是它长♥期♥的伴侣
Her long term partner.
它通过发射一种看不见的化学成分 将雄性置于自己的魔咒之下
She keeps him under her control by casting an invisible chemical potion.
这只雄性使用触须上超级灵敏的毛发
The male picks up this pheromone trail
跟随着信息素的痕迹
with hypersensitive hairs on his antennae.
完全无力反抗
Powerless to resist,
雌性需要它的时候 它总是就在附近
he's always around whenever she needs him...
海星终于翻转过来了
Sea star finally flipped.
这足够雌性吃到它交♥配♥的时候了
There's more than enough to keep her fed till it's time to mate.
多亏了它有超强的吸引力
Thanks to her powers of attraction,
它的伴侣才会留在它身边
her partner stays put.
耐心地等上20天 直到最后
Patiently waiting 20 days, until finally,
它回到自己的秘密裂隙中蜕壳
she retires to her secret crevice to undress.
它从旧壳中钻出来
She emerges from her old shell,
周身柔软
all softskinned,
甚至比之前更漂亮
even more beautiful than before.
但现在 它只有几个小时的交♥配♥时间
But now, she only has a few hours to mate
然后它的壳就会变硬
before her shell hardens.
所以为了引起伴侣的兴致
So to get her partner in the mood,
它释放了另外一种化学成分
she releases another potion,
这次是强力的催情成分
this time with powerful aphrodisiac properties,
让臣服于它的雄性变得兴致勃勃
turning her submissive shrimp into a lusty male
满脑子只想着一件事
with only one thing on his mind.
这是第一次拍摄到它们交♥配♥
Filmed for the first time, they mate.
只持续了几秒钟
It lasts only seconds.
然后它又使出老办法 让雄性归顺在自己的魔咒之下
Then she's back to her old tricks for keeping him under her spell.
这样 几个星期之后
So, a few weeks later,
当它上千个卵孵出来时
when her thousand tiny eggs finally hatch,
雄性也会在它身边
he's right there, by her side
它们的后代会离开妈妈的怀抱
as their offspring escape their mother's embrace
在蔚蓝色的深海中各寻生路
to take their chances in the deep blue sea.
我们的世界中充满了奇妙的动物
Our world is full of wonderful animals
用各种奇妙的方法来赢得交♥配♥的游戏
with weird ways to win the mating game.
但仅有为数不多的动物
But only a few have the power
有能力让爱情持久
to make love last.
白掌猿的伴侣关系可以持续几十年
Lar gibbon partnerships can endure for decades.
但涉及到家庭生活时
But when the reality of family life kicks in,
需要的就不仅仅是 要保持恋爱的火花了
you have to go above and beyond to keep the spark alive.
妈妈的注意力放在抚养幼崽上
The mother's attention is focused on raising their young.
它需要伴侣负担起保卫家园的责任
She needs her partner to own the job of defending their home.
它们的家是泰国原始森林中 一块面♥积♥为四千平♥米♥的林地
A home that is one hundred acres of pristine Thai rainforest.
面♥积♥太大了 没法巡逻
It's too large an area to patrol.
所以它采用了一种更精密的威慑武器
So, he uses a more sophisticated deterrent.
唱歌♥是它的超能力
Singing is his superpower.
叫声越大 越有韵律感 代表白掌猿越强壮
The louder and more melodic the call, the stronger the gibbon.
在凉爽的空气中声音传播效果最好
Sound travels best in cool air.
天色刚亮时歌♥唱
By singing at first light,
就可以确保领土对面的对手 听得一清二楚
he ensures rivals hear him loud and clear right across his territory.
但很快
But soon,
炎热的阳光让树木中的水汽
the hot sun causes moisture from the trees
蒸腾起来
to rise.
形成了气流 阻碍了它的叫声传播
Creating air currents that disrupt his calls,
减弱了效果
reducing their effectiveness.
到了那时 它的工作通常已经完成
By then, his work is usually done.
但今天不同
But not today.
家族领地中心 结满果实的果树
Fruiting trees at the heart of the family territory
吸引了对手家族的注意
have attracted the attention of a rival troop.
如果爸爸不能保护家园
If Dad can't defend their home,
它的伴侣就会去找有能力保护的