Only In Mexico Monday --- Mexican Jumping Beans

The very first Only in Mexico Monday is especially for the kiddos. Mexican jumping beans are more than fun, they are delicious! Crack one open and the little larva inside tastes just like popcorn! This is what I told the boys, Jamison took me up on it as you will see later on. There is actually a beetle larva that tastes like popcorn but it’s not found in the Mexican jumping bean.

What is a Mexican jumping bean? The bean is actually one section of a seed capsule from the Sebastiana pavoniana shrub:


(I had a horrible time finding a picture of the shrub online since I couldn't go out and take one myself. I am borrowing this one even if it's only a picture of the leaves.)

Sebastiana pavoniana is found in the Mexican states of Sonora, Sinaloa, and Chihuahua so the Mexican jumping bean is unique to Mexico! In the spring, the adult moth lays her eggs inside the seed (some argue she lays them outside and they burrow inside, those entomologists are always arguing about something) and when the egg hatches the larva begins to eat itself a little room inside the seed.

Since Jamison decided to bite one of the seeds in half (he just wanted to see what they tasted like, not like popcorn I assure you) I took advantage of the carnage for an educational moment.



The larva is from the moth called Laspeyresia saltitans. The larva attaches itself to the inside of the seed with silken webs almost like a little larva hammock! As the larva wiggles and moves it pulls on the web moving the seed with it creating the fun jumping effect.

After a period of time depending on the moisture and environment, the larva changes into a moth and leaves its seed home. The pupa case can be seen in this picture protruding from the seed capsule. (Apologies about the photo quality.)



In the rainy season you can find vendors selling what they call “brincadores” or hoppers; one of the fun things you can buy for less than a penny here in Mexico!