It was a summer evening when chickens and dogs were jumping, and there was a sudden commotion in the rice fields of a small village in the south, and it turned out that the villagers had discovered a strange creature that they had never seen before!
7-year-old Xiaofang held the enthusiasm of midsummer, followed a few friends to jump to the river to play, originally wanted to catch some fish and shrimp for dinner, but saw a large group of small "monsters" like turtles crawling all over the river.
Xiao Fang was stunned, her eyes widened, and she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
These small creatures have hard shells on their backs and strange green patterns on their shells. What makes Xiaofang feel "disgusting" the most is that their abdomen is white and soft, and the color of some internal organs can be faintly seen, like a body that has been dissected.
"Ahh Xiao Fang couldn't help but scream, and the other playmates also turned pale with fright, and retreated one after another.
At this time, Xiaofang's father heard his daughter's exclamation and hurriedly ran over to check.
Since that day, this strange creature has begun to appear in large numbers on the ditches and ridges of the village. The villagers were so frightened and curious that no one knew where it came from.
Some say it's a monster sent by the mountain gods, and some say it will bring disaster. Parents in the village strictly warn their children not to touch it.
The discovery of the archaeologists has changed the eyes of the villagers to this ugly little creature 180 degrees.
It turns out that this mysterious "living fossil" has not only survived for 300 million years, but also has an incredible vitality!
After a rainstorm, the village dam was flooded with rainwater, and the children noticed that there were a large number of horseshoe crabs in the dam. Archaeologists explain that this is because horseshoe crab eggs can be kept in dry ground for up to 25 years, and the absence of water is a state of "suspended animation" for them.
When the rain comes, providing them with moisture, they are "resurrected" and begin a new cycle of life.
"This vitality is a miracle!" The villagers lamented. It can survive in drought for 25 years, and normal creatures have long since died, but the eggs of horseshoe crabs seem to have a time bomb, and as soon as the water comes, they will come back to life with a "bang".
"There have been many extinctions on Earth, and many species have not survived, but the horseshoe crab has survived tenaciously, and it must have some kind of unique genetic code in its body that helps it resist environmental stressors. Archaeologists speculate.
Indeed, why horseshoe crabs can survive in the vicissitudes of geological history must contain some kind of mystery that human beings have not solved.
Perhaps the horseshoe crab's genes are the elixir of human dreams, and if we can decipher its magical life code, we may be able to uncover the secret of humanity's quest for eternal life.
Now, these ancient little beings live around the villagers, perhaps they are burdened with the origin code of life on the earth, as long as we patiently interpret it, we can discover the true meaning of the miracle of life.
Villagers and archaeologists decided to join forces to preserve these precious "living fossils" and preserve the last of their life for scientific research.
At first, the villagers thought the horseshoe crab was ugly and disgusting, and that it was a little monster. However, since the discovery that it was a "living fossil", the attitude of the villagers began to change.
One day, Uncle Zhang found that his chickens had eaten some horseshoe crabs, and they grew very fast, and the eggs they laid every day were bigger than before.
It turns out that horseshoe crabs are very beneficial for poultry growth and provide rich animal protein. After the news spread, the chickens, ducks and geese in the village became "fans" of horseshoe crabs, vying to eat this nutritious little tonic.
Not only that, but the villagers also noticed that there were fewer weeds in the rice paddies because horseshoe crabs eat algae and other weeds in the paddy fields. These "ecological engineers", who were supposed to be a headache for farmers, helped them weed, which really helped them a lot.
According to archaeologists, horseshoe crabs can eat algae with too much organic matter in the water, thereby reducing the nutrient nature of the water and purifying the water. It also eats a lot of pest larvae in rice fields, acting as a natural pesticide.
According to statistics, in the years when horseshoe crabs appeared, the total grain production in the village increased by 15% compared to the past. There are no pests to eat the grain, no weeds to consume nutrients, and the rice is growing well.
It turned out that this ugly little guy was so beneficial to the villagers. Everyone is grateful for this "little dodac", without which the production in the village would be much worse.
I heard that in the 20s, Japanese farmers discovered the weeding function of horseshoe crabs and used it extensively to control weeds in rice fields. Now that this natural advantage has been discovered in his own village, the villagers are extremely excited.
So, the villagers began to take the initiative to protect these little supermen, they provided free services to humans, and of course we should repay them by keeping their rice fields home from pollution.
However, with the development of modern agriculture, the village began to use pesticides in large quantities to increase production.
At first, the villagers did not know how much of the side effects of pesticides were, and they simply pursued high yields. Until one day, suddenly there was not a single horseshoe crab in the ditch and ridge of the village.
It turns out that pesticide pollution has destroyed the living environment of horseshoe crabs. They are very sensitive to changes in water quality and are poison to pesticides once they enter the rice fields. A large number of horseshoe crabs could not stand the contamination and died.
Only then did the villagers realize the seriousness of the problem. The pursuit of increasing food production is important, but we ignore the damage caused by pesticides to the environment and the lives of beneficial insects.
Today, the horseshoe crabs, which once helped us a lot, are now dying silently, and their endangered state makes people's hearts ache. We have had a good harvest for a while, but we have lost these natural friends.
"We should find ways to develop pesticides that have less impact on the environment through scientific and technological progress. At the same time, we should strengthen management to prevent excessive use of pesticides and protect small animals in rice fields.
Economic development cannot be obtained by destroying the environment, and sustainable development must be adhered to. "The villagers are aware of the seriousness of the problem.
As individuals, we also need to reflect on our lifestyle, choose organic food, and do not buy produce that uses excessive pesticides. Only by doing our part can we protect the horseshoe crabs from pollution.
We changed the horseshoe crab home, and now it's our turn to take care of this home.
At the same time, a trend is quietly emerging - horseshoe crabs have run from the countryside to the city, and they have become a fashionable pet that is popular among people!
It turns out that some urban dwellers in Japan and Taiwan have recently rushed to buy horseshoe crabs as pets, and their unique appearance is very popular among playmakers. The number of horseshoe crabs in the wild has decreased and cannot meet the market demand, so merchants have begun to artificially breed horseshoe crabs for sale.
"We have sold more than 5,000 horseshoe crab pets and the number of orders continues to grow. Mr. Wang, the owner of the pet shop, said. He found that many post-80s and post-90s generations would buy some and raise them back to recall the horseshoe crabs they saw in the countryside in their childhood.
"Now that the kids in the city don't see this little animal, I want them to experience the memories of our past. A first-time mother born in the 90s said.
In fact, not only satisfying feelings, horseshoe crabs can also play a role in purifying water quality, which is suitable for placing in fish tanks or aquariums. As long as fresh water and enough algae food are provided, they can be well raised.
Some enthusiasts have even set up an online forum for horseshoe crab enthusiasts to share their breeding experiences. Horseshoe crabs have come to the city from the countryside and become a new pet choice, which shows the deep yearning of urban people for nature and returning to the countryside.
"I hope that through my small actions, I can spread the word about the protection of beneficial insects like horseshoe crabs. They also deserve our love. A forum poster wrote.
Perhaps in the near future, we will also be able to see these small ancient creatures in the lakes of city parks, active on the clear waters.
I couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion when I saw the horseshoe crab running from the countryside to the city and becoming a niche culture.
Its story makes us reflect on the impact of human activities on the environment. We pursue efficiency and yield, but ignore the harm to nature.
The LAL is a beneficial insect that is very good for humans, it can help us control weeds, eat pests, and purify water. Data shows that with their help, food production can increase by as much as 15 percent.
We should cherish the gifts given to us by nature and protect these selfless little lives in the environment. They also deserve our love and gratitude.
Our ancestors discovered the usefulness of horseshoe crabs and saw them as important partners. Now it is our turn to take responsibility for keeping their homes free from pollution and from extinction.
Maybe everyone thinks that they are too powerless, and it is the government's business to protect the environment. But in fact, start from daily life, such as choosing organic agricultural products and not buying foods that use excessive pesticides; Save water and electricity, everyone can do something for the environment.
I sincerely hope that our future generations will also be able to see these ancient and small lives and feel the mystery and greatness of nature. When we think back to them, we will remember that we worked together to protect this beautiful home.