When do jumping beans hatch

Only a small percentage will survive pupation and emerge as a tiny moth. The moth that emerges only lives a few days, and is harmless to clothing, plants, etc.

They are very specific to needing another moth to breed with and then having the seeds of the Mexican Sebastiana plant to lay eggs on. Tools Help. Share This Page.

This amazing process starts every Spring when a deciduous shrub native only to Mexico begins to bloom. The female Jumping Bean moth Laspeyresia saltitans lays her eggs on the immature ovaries capsules of the shrubs flower.

After a few weeks the eggs hatch and the tiny insect larvae worm eats its way to the inside of the flowers capsule. As the shrub matures, the capsules that contain the insect larva become hard and changes to a brownish color. The moth larvae, now trapped inside his new home, begins eating the developing seed inside the capsule as food.

After the first spring rains occur, the capsules separate into three sections and fall to the ground. Those capsules that are lucky to contain a moth larvae inside begin to "jump" on the forest floor.

Our mysterious Mexican Jumping Bean has come to life. Wayne's Trivia Note 20 July Wayne's Word. Noteworthy Plants. Biology What Makes Jumping Beans Jump? Why Do Jumping Beans Jump? Will U. Border Patrol Confiscate Jumping Beans? An assortment of Mexican jumping beans. They are actually the separate sections carpels of seed capsules from the Mexican shrub Sebastiana pavoniana.

Showy red clumps of Mexican jumping bean shrubs Sebastiana pavoniana and stately fan palms Brahea brandegeei line a canyon bottom of Sierra de la Laguna in the rugged Cape region of Baja California.

During June the ground beneath large jumping bean shrubs is littered with coppery-red leaves and hundreds thousands of larva-bearing carpels. The jumping carpels sound like the patter of rain drops on dry leaves.

Apparently the same species of moth larva inhabits seed-bearing carpels; however, the carpels do not separate into sections as in the true Mexican jumping bean S. Note: According to American Insects by R. This amazing little, live bean, the size of your fingernail, has been entertaining and fascinating both young and old alike for more than 50 years, proof enough that they are harmless, yet entertaining natural wonders.

This family is somewhat of a curiosity. The flower then forms a seedpod around the moth egg. When the early May rains start, the seedpod matures, splits into three parts and falls to the ground.

The egg turns into a caterpillar which then consumes the seed inside. The jumping movements are the caterpillar's movements to get to the edible seed.