15 Mexican Jumping Beans - by Caits Carnivores
Fifteen Mexican Jumping Beans in three 1x1x1" acrylic enclosures.Game and care sheet provided.The Mexican Jumping Bean (LASPEYRESIA SALTITANS) comes from high up in the mountains spanning the Mexican States of Sonora and Sinaloa. They are found exclusively in a 30x100 mile area where the host plants (SEBASTIANA PAVONIANA) grow.In the spring, moths emerge from the previous season's beans to deposit their eggs in the flowers of the host trees. The egg burrows into the seed, which is divided into 3 sections and is similar to a walnut. When the egg hatches, the resulting larva eats the heart of the bean until it carves a hole to emerge as a small moth.The jumping is a survival instinct. The larva does not like heat, which dehydrates and kills. They "jump" to find a cool, damp place to survive until spring.TESTING THE BEANSFIRST TEST: Shake each bean individually, if they rattle the larva is likely dead.SECOND TEST: Hold them in your hand, you should feel     thump as the larva warms up and moves.THIRD TEST: Notch the bean. If the interior is light green the bean is healthy. Browning indicates a poor state of health.*The larva spins a web to seal the damaged shell*STORAGE OF THE BEANS We recommend storing the beans between 40-50◦F to induce hibernation, or in a cool dark place.Soak beans in de-chlorinated water for 5 hours once a month.