【精英翻譯】的部落格

Wildflowers: The Natural Pesticide 野花帶：天然的殺蟲劑

—K. M. Wright

精英翻譯社轉自https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0058/334127/web/

Many farmers use pesticides to get rid of pests that eat their crops. However, these chemicals can be harmful to both the environment and human health. Thankfully, scientists trying to deal with this problem may have found a natural replacement: wildflowers.

許多農夫利用殺蟲劑除去吃他們農作物的害蟲。然而，這些化學劑可能對環境和人類健康都有危害。幸好，設法要解決這個問題的科學家可能已找到一個天然的替代品：野花。

Wildflowers placed near crops can reduce pests and increase crop yields. This happens because they attract insects that like to eat the pests. As a result, by planting wildflowers, farmers would have less of a need to use regular pesticides.

位在農作物附近的野花可以減少害蟲並增加農作物的產量。這是因為它們會招來那些喜歡吃害蟲的昆蟲。因此，藉由種植野花，農夫比較不需要使用一般的農藥。

Until recently, wildflowers have been planted around the border of some fields, but this has made it hard for the helpful insects to get to the middle sections. Now, scientists in the United Kingdom and Switzerland are experimenting with planting strips of wildflowers throughout fields. If these tests are successful, the next step will be to convince farmers to get on board.

直到最近，野花已繞著一些田地的邊界種植，但這使得有助益的昆蟲難以到達中間區域。現在，英國和瑞士的科學家正實驗在田裡到處種植狹長的野花帶。如果這些試驗成功的話，下一步就是說服農夫們加入這個行列。

It is hoped that farmers everywhere will begin planting wildflowers rather than spray bad chemicals. This natural solution could blossom into the pesticide of the future.

希望世界各地的農夫會開始種植野花而不是噴灑不好的化學劑。這個天然的解決方案有可能發展成未來的殺蟲劑。