Mexican jumping bean
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Mexican jumping beans (
Physicists at Seattle University theorize, using Brownian motion as a model, that the larva's random walk helps to find shade to survive on hot days. Although it does not optimize for finding shade quickly, the strategy minimizes the chances of never finding shade when shade is sparse.[2]
The larva may live for months inside the bean with varying periods of dormancy. If the larva has adequate conditions of moisture and temperature, it will live long enough to go into a
Novelty
When the bean is warmed (by being held in the palm of the hand, for example) the larva will move to eat, pulling on the threads and causing the characteristic hop.[4] Leaving the beans in heat can kill the larva.
Sources
The Mexican jumping bean comes from the mountains in the
See also
- Spirostachys africana, a related plant parasitized by a similar moth
- Emporia melanobasis, the moth parasite of Spirostachys africana
- Sea-Monkeys
- Formicarium
- Mighty Beanz, a plastic toy line in which the toys resemble Mexican jumping beans
References
- ^ Marisa Demarco (27 September 2007). "The King and Queen of Hopping Seeds". alibi.
- ^ Ouellette, Jennifer (2023-02-09). "Study: Mexican jumping beans use random walk strategy to find shade". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ "What makes Mexican jumping beans jump? | Earth | EarthSky". 29 October 2009.
- ^ "How do Mexican jumping beans work?". HowStuffWorks. April 2000. Retrieved 4 November 2013.