Ants believed to have a "kamikaze attraction" to electricity have been discovered in one of England’s finest National Trust gardens.
據信對電流有種「自殺式吸引力」的螞蟻已在英國國民信託組織所有的一座花園中被發現。
Colonies of lasius neglectus, the so-called Asian super ant, have being found at Hidcote Manor, near Chipping Campden, in Gloucestershire.
這種被稱為亞洲超級螞蟻、學名為lasius neglectus的大群蟻巢已在格洛斯特郡契平坎頓附近的希迪寇特莊園內被發現。
It is thought to be the first recorded sighting in the UK, although they have been spotted in mainland Europe. They are naturally drawn to electrical currents so can pose a fire risk.
這是英國首次紀錄到這種螞蟻現身，不過牠們在歐洲大陸也曾零星出現。這種螞蟻天生就會受電流所吸引，因此可能造成火災風險。
The species was first identified in Budapest 20 years ago. The ants look like a common black garden variety.
這種螞蟻20年前首度在布達佩斯被發現，牠們外形就跟一般的黑色花園螞蟻很類似。
English Heritage and the National Trust carried out investigations into infestations within the Hidcote estate to identify them as lasius neglectus.
英格蘭遺產協會與國民信託組織針對莊園內的蟻害進行調查後，確認這種螞蟻即為lasius neglectus。
Their compulsion to follow electricity is stronger than their need for food or drink. Swarms of ants around electrical cables can cause blackouts. The National Trust said 35,000 ant carcasses were found in one electrical junction box at Hidcote.
牠們跟隨電流的衝動甚至大過對食物或飲水的需要，在電線周遭的大批蟻群可能會導致停電。國民信託組織表示，光是在希迪寇特莊園的一處接線箱旁就發現了多達3萬5千具蟻屍。
新聞辭典
kamikaze：名詞，指（二次世界大戰時日本軍國主義的）神風特攻隊飛行員或其戰機，形容詞則指神風特攻隊式的、自殺式的（通常置於名詞前），如a kamikaze attack/mission（一次自殺式攻擊／任務）。
infestation：名詞，指（動植物的）寄生蟲侵擾，如a flea infestation（跳蚤肆虐），動詞為infest。
garden- variety：名詞，指常見品種，用於形容詞則必須置於名詞前，指常見品種的，或指普通的、平凡的，如It’s just a garden-variety shopping mall, large but not special in any way. （這只不過是間普通的購物中心，面積雖大卻毫無特殊之處。）
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