Do you remember Mexican Jumping beans from your youth

United States
June 28, 2008 6:40am CST
and how fascinated we were with these? Look at what I just read: A Mexican jumping bean is a phenomenon native to Mexico (where it is known as a brincador, or "hopper"). Physically, Mexican jumping beans resemble small tan to brown beans. They are a type of seed in which the egg of a small moth has been laid. It is the moth's larva which makes them 'jump'. The beans jump as a survival measure in order to protect the larvae from the heat, which can cause them to dry out. The ultraviolet rays from the sun stimulate them to jump, even in cool temperatures, but leaving them in the sun for extended periods will dehydrate and kill them. When the bean is abruptly warmed, for instance by being held in the palm of the hand, the larva twitches and spasms, pulling on the threads and causing the characteristic hop. The Mexican Jumping Bean (Laspeyresia Saltitans) comes from the mountains in the states of Sonora Sinaloa and Chihuahua; indeed, Álamos, Sonora, claims to be "the jumping bean capital of the world". So my question is, do you think toy manufacturers/novelty companies were pulling the wool over our eyes?
3 responses
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
28 Jun 08
Oh, I remember those! It was great fun to warm them in your hand and watch them 'dance'. I do believe that I was told as a child how it worked, but it was still fun nonetheless. What a great memory! I wonder if kids today would be as mesmerized by something so simple since it doesn't involve batteries, USB ports and electronics.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jun 08
You are onto something there about kids and if it would hold their interest. I know my 11 daughter would have not interest because it is not electronics. My 7 year old daughter would probably love them. It's funny how two children can be so different. My 7 year old received math blocks, from a teacher right before school got out for the year; (the blocks are cubes to various lengths) she is having so much fun with them! In fact, since she is playing with them right now, I just asked her to make something for me to display here. My youngest has the imagination, when they were passing out imagination I think my oldest was looking at video games! LOL
• United States
29 Jun 08
My Lot in Math Cubes - My seven year old just made this for me! She used math cubes to do it!
Thanks for stimulating my brain to get her to do this for me!!!
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
29 Jun 08
How cute! (and no batteries required, right?)
@peavey (16936)
• United States
29 Jun 08
I remember those, both from my childhood and my children's. I don't think they were pulling the wool over our eyes, but later, they created a fake jumping bean in a plastic capsule. That wasn't nearly as cool as the real thing.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jun 08
I remember the plastic capsule one's! Too funny. Thanks for the response.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
28 Jun 08
I remeber seeing those too. I think they were in a plastic container from what I remember. They amazed me too how they jumped inside of the container. I never did figure out what made them do it. I really don't know if they were3 pulling the wool over our eyes or not.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jun 08
LOL, we were so easily swayed and misled as children. I'm sure it never crossed my mine as a child to try and figure them out. I just ask Mr.WorldBook aka hubby, if he knew how they worked as a kid. He said he researched it World Book. I kinda of figured that was going to be his answer. He analyzes everything.