Mexican Jumping Bean is seed of a tropical and subtropical American shrubs.

The seeds are usually infested with larvae of a small moth related to the codling moth.

The larva occupies about one-fifth of the interior of the seed, and when the seed is placed on a flat surface, its movements disturb the balance of the seed, causing the seed to roll from side to side, turn over endways, or actually jump.

Warmth, as from the palm of a hand, results in livelier movement. The seeds are commonly called Mexican Jumping Beans in the United States. Mexican Jumping Bean is widely used in pharmaceutical industries like Mexican pharmacy for medical purposes. The female moth lays her eggs on the green, immature ovaries of female flowers of the Mexican Jumping Bean shrubs, which typically bloom during the spring and summer months.

Jumping beans will continue their movements and vibrations for weeks or months when placed in a container where they can get air. In time their activity will cease as the larvae undergo metamorphosis. Up to six months later, often after you have completely forgotten about them, adult moths will emerge from the beans.

Luckily for the plant, not all capsules are infested with moth larvae. Otherwise the people fond of eating the Jumping Bean would have some serious stomach problems and frequent visits to the local Mexican Pharmacy . Mexican pharmacy is a well-recognized name in medical care.

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