授粉：为何雄蜂很差劲？

Plans for artificial pollinators are afoot. It is, in one way, the ultimate drone.

人造授粉者计划蓄势待发。人造雄蜂堪称终极的飞行利器。

In another, though, it is the antithesis of what a drone should be.

但它与自然界的雄蜂截然不同。

Drones are supposed to laze around in the hive while their sisters collect nectar and pollinate flowers.

雄蜂一般都在蜂巢附近徘徊，而由工蜂采集花蜜和为花朵授粉。

But pollination is this drone’s very reason for existing.

但是，今天我们所说的是生来就是为了授粉的人造雄蜂。

The drone in question is the brainchild of Eijiro Miyako, of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, in Tsukuba, Japan.

人造雄蜂的构想由日本筑波市产业技术综合研究所的宫古博士率先提出。

It is the first attempt by an engineer to deal with what many perceive as an impending agricultural crisis.

对于大家觉得即将发生的农业危机，这是第一次有工程人员出面加以应对。

Pollinating insects in general, and bees in particular, are falling in numbers. The reasons why are obscure.

基本上，授粉昆虫（尤其是蜜蜂）的数量正日渐减少，而原因却不甚分明。

But some fear certain crops will become scarcer and more expensive as a result.

但有些人担忧的是，这种现象将导致某些特定作物的产量下降，价格上涨。

Attempts to boost the number of natural pollinators have so far failed. Perhaps, thinks Dr Miyako, it is time to build some artificial ones instead.

至今，所有试图增加授粉生物数量的尝试均告失败。可能正如宫古博士所想，人造授粉者登场的时候到了。

His pollinator-bot does not, it must be said, look much like a bee.

实际上，宫古博士的授粉机器人看上去并不像真的蜜蜂。