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Jumping BeansMexican jumping beans or Brincadores as they are known in Mexico are a type of seed in which a small moth larvae has been laid which makes the 'jump'. The beans themselves are from a shrub called Sebastiana palmeri or Sebastiana pavoniana. The moth that lays its larvae in the beans is called Carpocapsa saltitans. The larva eats the inside of the bean, making a home for itself. The larva attaches itself to the insides of the bean by little silk threads which it will pull on when you warm the bean up. It is this tugging on the threads which causes the beans to 'jump'. Jump is quite often an exageration but they are far from immobile. This is a link to a short movie of some jumping beans 'jumping' The hjumping beans are also known to have been used in many 1930-1950s cartoons as reappearing gag.
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