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If insects suddenly morphed into large beings, and decided to wage war on us, there's no doubt that humans would lose.
如果有一天，所有的昆蟲突然都變大了并且要和我們開戰，那我們人類必輸無疑。
We'd simply be crushed by their sheer numbers.
我們會輕易地敗給它們龐大的數量。
There are an estimated 10 quintillion individual insects on Earth.
據估計，地球上有一千億億個昆蟲個體。
That's a one followed by 19 zeroes.
就是1后面有19個零。
So, compared with our population of about 7 billion, these invertebrates outnumber us by more than a billion to one.
人類人口是70億，這些無脊椎動物的數量與我們相比是十億比一。
Their astounding numbers exist at the species level, as well.
它們驚世駭俗的數量也在物種層面有所體現。
There are more than 60,000 vertebrate species on the planet.
地球上有超過六萬種脊椎動物。
But the class of insects contains a million known species, and many others that haven't been classified.
但是昆蟲綱包括了一百萬種已知的物種以及許多還未被分類的物種。
In fact, these critters make up approximately 75% of all animals on Earth.
事實上，這些生物大約占據了地球上75%的動物數量。
So, what's their secret to success?
那么，它們如此大量的秘訣是什么？
Insect abundance comes down to many things that together make them some of the most adaptable and resilient creatures, beginning with their impressive ability to breed.
昆蟲的巨大數量歸因于許多方面，這些因素使得昆蟲成為適應性最強、最有彈性的生物，第一條就是它們極強的繁育能力。
Many species can produce hundreds of offspring within their lifetimes.
許多種類的昆蟲在一生中可以繁育出上百個后代。
Most offspring will die, but more than enough will survive into adulthood to reproduce.
大多數幼蟲會死亡，但存活下來并長成成蟲繼續繁育的幼蟲數量足以保證這個物種繁衍生息。
Offspring also mature very rapidly, so the cycle of reproduction resumes quickly, and can occur over and over again in a short time.
幼蟲的生長速度也非常快，所以一個繁衍周期的輪回很快，在短時間內可以一遍又一遍地循環。
These numbers mean that as a class, insects harbor a tremendous amount of genetic diversity.
這些數字說明了昆蟲綱擁有非常豐富的遺傳多樣性。
The different species contain a wealth of genetic data that give them the necessary adaptations they need to thrive in a range of environments across the planet.
不同的物種有著大量的基因組，使得它們能獲得在世界各種生存環境中得以繁衍生息所需的適應能力。
Even some of the most extreme environments are in bounds;
即使是一些最惡劣的環境也在它們的承受范圍之內
Flat bark beetles can live at -40 degrees Fahrenheit, Sahara Desert ants can venture out when surface temperatures exceed 155 degrees, and some bumblebees can survive 18,000 feet above sea level.
扁甲蟲可以在-40°F（-40°C）的環境中生存，撒哈拉沙漠蟻在地表溫度超過155°F（68°C）時還能活動自如，一些黃蜂甚至可以在18000英尺（5486米）的地區生存。
