jamieslater
The Mexican Jumping Bean
This is the Laspeyresia saltitans, otherwise known as the Mexican Jumping bean moth. In this photo, taken February 15th 2017 in my apartment, I have captured the exact moment that the moth has hatched from its "Jumping bean" shell, which isn't even a bean at all. It is a small section of a seed capsule of the Sapium biloculare which flower in the Spring and summer months, at which time a female moth will lay her eggs within the seed capsule and as the larvae inside grow, they will feed off of the seed and eventually eat their way out of the capsule when they have transformed into a moth. If the jumping bean is exposed to sunlight or warmth, the larvae inside will jump, hence the name "Jumping Bean". Since the larvae of the moth is completely eating the seed within the capsule, the relationship between the moth and the plant is not beneficial to the plant and the moth is seen as a seed predator.
The Mexican Jumping Bean
This is the Laspeyresia saltitans, otherwise known as the Mexican Jumping bean moth. In this photo, taken February 15th 2017 in my apartment, I have captured the exact moment that the moth has hatched from its "Jumping bean" shell, which isn't even a bean at all. It is a small section of a seed capsule of the Sapium biloculare which flower in the Spring and summer months, at which time a female moth will lay her eggs within the seed capsule and as the larvae inside grow, they will feed off of the seed and eventually eat their way out of the capsule when they have transformed into a moth. If the jumping bean is exposed to sunlight or warmth, the larvae inside will jump, hence the name "Jumping Bean". Since the larvae of the moth is completely eating the seed within the capsule, the relationship between the moth and the plant is not beneficial to the plant and the moth is seen as a seed predator.