Mexican Jumping Beans

Believe it or not, there is such a bean that actually moves about erratically right before your eyes. The Mexican Jumping Bean is commonly sold in novelty shops in both North America and Mexico.

What makes the Mexican jumping bean do its thing?

There is a tiny larva from a small gray moth (jumping bean moth) that burrows its way into the bean. After the larva consumes the seed within, it instinctively throws itself with force from one side wall to the other. This cases the unique jumping movement to give the name �Mexican Jumping Bean�. When you see it for yourself� you understand.

In reality, the Mexican jumping bean is not really a bean at all. It is actually a seed capsule (resembling a bean) that is produced by a native shrub tree that grows wild in the deserts of mainland Mexico, and includes the Cape region of Baja, California (a very rugged area unto itself), parts of Arizona, etc. The most popular place to view this shrub tree is in Alamos, Mexico which is known as the �Jumping Bean Capital of the World�.

Interesting Footnote:

The freshly cut stems of the jumping bean shrub tree exudes a poisonous milky sap that some native Indians use to poison their arrows when hunting.

If you have never seen a Mexican Jumping Bean in action it is worth picking up some. Kids will especially enjoy watching them in perpetual and erratic motion. To find Mexican Jumping Beans you can do a search online and you�ll find many sites that offer them for sale.