A Rare Beetle Is Found in Wales After a Three-Year Search

A very rare insect has been found alive in Wales after a three-year search. People feared the short-necked oil beetle had disappeared from the country. Last year, wildlife searchers found only dead adult beetles, which made them worry. But this year, experts found young beetles, called larvae, on the ground.

has been found= 現在完成式被動語態，用來描述最近發生的發現，而未強調最初是誰找到的。

This new discovery suggests that the rare beetle is breeding in Wales again. The species was missing from the country for about 60 years because it lost its natural home. Today, the coastal grassland of Pembrokeshire is the only place in Wales where this beetle lives.

suggests that= 用來根據證據提出一個很可能成立的推論，而非斷言絕對的事實。

These beetles need special conditions to survive. They need thick plants for shelter and many flowers to feed on. They also depend on wild bees to complete their life cycle. Adult beetles can grow up to 24 millimeters long and live for about one year.

grow up to= 表示成長的尺寸、長度或數量「最高可達」某個上限。

Wildlife experts called the discovery very exciting. Volunteers and conservation workers plan to keep caring for the land so this rare beetle can survive in the future.

keep caring for= 「keep + 動名詞（V-ing）」表示不間斷地「持續照料、維護」某事物。

學習筆記

文法整理

句型	意思
has been found	現在完成式被動語態，用來描述最近發生的發現，而未強調最初是誰找到的。
suggests that	用來根據證據提出一個很可能成立的推論，而非斷言絕對的事實。
grow up to	表示成長的尺寸、長度或數量「最高可達」某個上限。
keep caring for	「keep + 動名詞（V-ing）」表示不間斷地「持續照料、維護」某事物。

詞彙整理

單字	意思
disappeared	不見蹤影；突然或不明原因地失去行蹤。
discovery	發現某件事物的行為或過程。
breeding	繁殖的；供繁殖用的。
species	【生物】具有共同特徵，彼此能交配繁殖並產生具有生殖能力後代的生物分類單位；物種。
survive	活下來；沒有死亡
shelter	遮蔽人身、使人免於危險或不受外界侵擾的地方或建築物。
depend on	取決於；視……而定

延伸學習

•地膽（oil beetle）之所以得名，是因為牠們在受到威脅時，會從腿部關節分泌出油狀、具防衛性的黃色液體。
•「larvae」是源自拉丁文名詞「larva（幼蟲）」的複數形式，為生物學中常見的不規則名詞變化。