You might not want to think about this, but over 3500 species of cockroaches live on this planet.
你可能压根不想要想到这个，但有超过 3500 种蟑螂，在这个星球上生活
The good news?
好消息是？
Only about 30 of those species have adapted to live around humans.
其中仅有 30 种，已适应能以人类为居
The bad news?
坏消息呢？
30 species of cockroaches can live around us!
有 30 种蟑螂能和我们为居！
Roaches are one of the most common pests in the US.
蟑螂是美国最普遍的昆虫之一
So it's no surprise that humans are always trying to kill them.
所以并不讶异人们总想杀死它们
But no matter how many times we stomp them,
但不论我们如何跺脚踩它们
squash them, and bomb them with toxic chemicals, these pesky pests always seem to pop up time and time again.
压扁它们或是用有毒的化学物质轰炸它们，这些麻烦的昆虫似乎永远能一而再、再而三地冒出来
So what's going on?
所以到底是怎么回事？
Let's take a closer look at the roach you probably know better than you'd like.
我们来更近一步看看蟑螂吧你可能比你想的知道更多
Periplaneta Americana.
美洲家蠊
Aka, the American Cockroach.
也被称作美洲蟑螂
But this name is misleading.
不过这名称有点误导
This guy is actually from Africa, not America.
小强其实是从非洲来的，不是美洲
It made its way to the US by infesting boats in the 16th century, and it's been spreading to almost every corner in the world ever since.
它们 16 世纪时群居跟着船只沿路来到美国，自此，就在世界各个角落散播开来
It turns out, it's one of the largest species of cockroach around.
美洲蟑螂变成了，全球最大的蟑螂种类
But that's not the only big thing about it.
但是不止如此
New research has revealed that it has a massive genome.
新的研究显示美洲蟑螂有巨大的基因
One of the largest of any studied insect.
也是所有研究的昆虫物种最大的之一
And may of these genes are exactly what make this roach a master survivor.
而这些基因正是让蟑螂成为最强大的幸存者的缘故
Let's start with the genes associated with something called Chemoreception.
我们从基因和一种称为Chemoreception 相关联的化学作用来看
That's how roaches smell and taste their environment.
那就蟑螂闻、尝到环境的方式
Turns out they're actually way better at sniffing out and eating food than most other insects.
这确实让蟑螂比其他大多的昆虫更能嗅及进食
The American roach has 154 olfactory receptors for smell, and 544 gustatory receptors for taste.
美洲蟑螂有 154 个嗅觉感官以及 544 个供尝味的味觉感官
More than any other insect on the planet.
远比其他地球上的昆虫都多
As a result, these cockroaches are not picky eaters.
因此，这些蟑螂不是吹毛求疵的挑食者
Sure, they like cheese, meat and sugar like the rest of us, but they'll also go for things like cardboard, book bindings, human toenails, rotting meat, blood, excrement, and even each other.
当然啦，它们跟我们一样爱起司、肉类跟糖类，不过，它们也爱像是厚纸板、装订书、人的脚指甲、腐烂的肉、血液、排泄物或什至是蟑螂彼此
That's right, these roaches have been known to eat other dead or crippled cockroaches, all in the name of survival.
没错，这些蟑螂已被得知为了生存，会吃掉其他死掉或残缺的蟑螂
It sounds gross, but this diverse diet makes it easy to find a meal just about anywhere, even if it's poisonous to most animals.
听起来好恶心，但是这样多元的饮食让蟑螂们很容易在各地饱食一餐，就算是对其他动物来说是有毒的
This roach has a bunch of genes called Cytochrome P450s, which help it withstand poisonous chemicals, like peppermint.
这种蟑螂有许多叫做 Cytochrome P450s 的基因 会帮助它们自己承受有毒化学物质，像是薄荷油
These genes code for detoxification enzymes, which keep the insect safe.
这些用来解读酶的基因码会让昆虫安全
On top of that, this roach has a super-strong immune system that seeks out and kills harmful microbes and fungi, making the most unsanitary environment look like a five-start hotel to the American cockroach.
根据如此，这种蟑螂有超强大的免疫系统，会找出并杀光有害的微生物跟菌类，让大多数不卫生的环境对美洲蟑螂而言，就像间五星级饭店
Not gross enough yet?
还不够恶心吗？
Well consider this.
那来听听这个
Cockroaches can live nearly a week without their heads.
蟑螂可以没有头部并生活近一星期
Yeah, that's not a myth.
没错，这可不是唬你的
They don't have a highly pressurized network of blood vessels like humans, so they don't bleed out.
它们没有个像人类一样抗压力组织的血管，所以它们并不会流血
Instead, their necks actually seal off the opening.
取而代之，它们的脖子真的是完全密封的
They can't regenerate a whole head, but roaches to have an impressive set of regenerative superpowers.
它们并不可以重新再生一个全新的头部，但蟑螂却有个令人印象深刻的重生超级能力
For up to the first two years of its life, the American roach goes through a series of regenerative molts as it matures into an adult.
从它们生命的前两年当它们变身为成虫，美洲蟑螂会经过一系列的再生的脱皮期
During a single molt stage, it can replace lost limbs.
在脱皮的每一阶段，能取代它遗失的四肢
And over a series of molts, it can regrow antennae and even its eyes.
且在这一系列脱皮后，它可以重新长出触角还有甚至眼睛
Roaches may be hard to kill, but there's an easy way to keep them clear of your kitchen.
蟑螂或许很难杀但仍有个简单的方法来阻止它们靠近你的厨房
Cleanliness.
那就是清洁
A roach just won't survive in unsanitary conditions, it actually enjoys it.
蟑螂在不卫生的条件下不仅会生存，它事实上超享受的
Its heightened senses mean it actually relishes rotting food.
它强大的感官也表示它确实喜爱腐坏的食物
So, store food in airtight containers.
所以，在密闭容器贮存食物
Cover trash bins, and keep your basement dry.
盖上垃圾桶盖子并保持地下室的干燥
It might also be smart to plug holes in your walls, unused electrical outlets, and especially drains, since get this, roaches can use your plumbing to climb up from sewers into your bathroom sink.
将墙上的洞补起来或许也是个聪明的方法用不到的插座，特别是排水沟这样做之后蟑螂能以你家水管，从下水道爬进你浴室的污水槽
It might not eliminate the risk entirely, but it can't hurt, and it will certainly make you feel better.
这可能不会完全免除掉碰到蟑螂的风险，但保持清洁对你不是坏事，也能使你过得更舒适
However, we can't promise it will keep them out of your nightmares.
然而，我们不能够保证这样做就可以远离蟑螂的梦魇
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