Why do Mexican jumping beans move around?

Bugs, Snails, Worms

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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Have you ever seen real Mexican jumping beans? They’re pretty neat! They jump, and wiggle, and pop all around! What makes them so squirmy??

Believe it or not, Mexican jumping beans (which are actually seed pods, and not beans) get all of their movement from tiny little larvae living inside of them! Larvae are the young and usually worm-like form that many insects take on after they’re first born and before they become winged adults. The ones inside Mexican jumping beans tunnel their way in, eat the seed inside, and then live in the empty space left behind!

The beans move around when the larvae living inside move too. Pop! Wiggle! Jump! No one knows exactly why the larvae move around so much, but they’ve been shown to do it more when the temperature around them goes up, so it’s possible that they’re trying to jump their way to some place cooler!

Mexican jumping beans get their name because the shrub that grows this type of seed pod is most common in parts of Mexico, as well as a few neighboring states in the U.S.

Bean and Seed Art!

Did you know that you can use beans and seeds to make art?? Have you ever tried it before?

All you need is a few different kinds of dry beans and seeds from the grocery store! If you can’t get a few different colors and kinds, try painting or coloring the beans that you have to you’re your picture some different shades.

Dip the tip of a toothpick into some glue, and put a little on the back of each bean to glue it down to your paper, and make a picture of something really special!

What did you create with your beans and seeds? How many did you use -- are you able to count that high??!

Posted by Mrscience on 2010-04-24 12:35:59

Mexican Jumping Beans Are Found Only In A Few Small Areas Of Mexico, Where A Jumping Bean Is Known As A Brincador — or “Hopper”. In The Spring The Female Jumping Bean Moth Lays Eggs On The Blooming Flowers Of The (Sebastiana Pavoniana) Tree. Several Weeks Later The Eggs Hatch, And The Very Small Worm Insect Eats Into The Small Pod Or “Bean” Of The Host Flower. The Pod Or “Bean” Slowly Hardens And The Moth Larva Which is Now Living Inside Begins To Feed On The Interior Of The Pod. When The Spring Rains Come, The Pod Or “Bean” Will Fall To The Ground And The Pods That Have A Moth Larva Living Inside Will Begin To “Jump And Bounce” Around On The Ground. Jumping Beans “Jump” As A Way Of Surviving. This Enables Them To Bounce To A Cooler Place To Avoid The Heat And The Sun. Eventually, After Several Months, The Larva Will Go Dormant And Start To Spin A Cocoon Inside The Pod. After This Stage, Metamorphosis Will Occur, And A Jumping Bean Moth Will Emerge From The Pod Through A Small Hole.

You can buy real Mexican jumping beans at http://www.amazingbeans.com

Posted by Mrsciencer on 2010-06-16 21:37:29

Mexican Jumping Beans Are Found Only In A Small Area Of Mexico, Where A Jumping Bean Is Known As A Brincador -- Or "Hopper". In The Spring The Female Jumping Bean Moth Lays Eggs On The Blooming Flowers Of The (Sebastiana Pavoniana) Trees. Several Weeks Later The Eggs Hatch, And The Very Small Worm Insect Eats Into The Small Pod Or "Bean" Of The Host Flower. The Pod Or "Bean" Slowly Hardens And The Moth Larva Which is Now Living Inside Begins To Feed On The Interior Of The Pod. When The Spring Rains Come, The Pod Or "Bean" Will Fall To The Ground And The Pods That Have A Moth Larva Living Inside Will Begin To "Jump And Bounce" Around On The Ground. Jumping Beans "Jump" As A Way Of Surviving. This Enables Them To Bounce To A Cooler Place To Avoid The Heat And The Sun. Eventually, After Several Months, The Larva Will Start To Spin A Cocoon Inside The Pod. After This Stage, Metamorphosis Will Occur, And A Jumping Bean Moth Will Emerge From The Pod Through A Small Hole.

Educational information about Mexican jumping beans from http://www.amazingbeans.com