Mexican jumping bean

Mexican jumping bean

      the seed of certain Mexican shrubs, especially those of the genus Sebastiania, of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), that contain larvae of a small olethreutid moth (Laspeyresia salitans). The movements of the larvae feeding on the pulp within the seed, which are intensified by warmth, give the seed the familiar jumping movement.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Mexican jumping bean — A Mexican jumping bean is an occurrence native to Mexico, where it is known as Frijoles saltarines . Physically, Mexican jumping beans resemble small beans, tan to brown in colour. They are a seed pod through which the larva of a small moth has… …   Wikipedia

  • Mexican jumping bean — noun seed of Mexican shrubs of the genus Sebastiana containing the larva of a moth whose movements cause the bean to jerk or tumble • Syn: ↑jumping bean, ↑jumping seed • Hypernyms: ↑seed • Part Holonyms: ↑Sebastiana, ↑genus Sebastiana …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mexican jumping bean — Mex′ican jump′ing bean n. jumping bean • Etymology: 1880–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • Mexican jumping bean — noun Date: 1922 jumping bean …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Mexican jumping bean. — See jumping bean. [1880 85] * * * …   Universalium

  • Mexican jumping bean. — See jumping bean. [1880 85] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mexican jumping bean — noun A type of seed of a shrub of the genus Sebastiania in which a larva has hatched from an egg laid there by a moth, the movement of the larva causing the seed to move around …   Wiktionary

  • Jumping Bean — may refer to: *Mexican jumping bean, a type of seed in which the egg of a small moth has been laid * Jumping Bean , a song by Tracy Bonham from her 2000 album Down Here …   Wikipedia

  • jumping bean — n. the seed of a Mexican plant that jumps with the movement of the larva inside. * * * noun, pl ⋯ beans [count] : a seed that moves when a small insect moves inside it called also Mexican jumping bean * * * ˈjumping bean 7 [jumping bean] noun a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • jumping bean — the seed of any of certain Mexican plants of the genera Sebastiania and Sapium, of the spurge family: the movements of a moth larva inside the seed cause it to move about or jump. Also called Mexican jumping bean. [1885 90, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

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