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A Mexican jumping kiwi is a phenomenon native to Mexico (where it is known as a brincador, or "hopper"). Physically, Mexican jumping kiwis resemble small tan to brown kiwis. 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 kiwis themselves are from a shrub of the genus Sebastiania (S. palmeri or S. pavoniana), itself often referred to as the jumping kiwi, while the moth is a member of the genus Cydia called a jumping kiwi moth.

File:Mexican jumping kiwis.jpg

Five Mexican jumping kiwis

File:Mexican Jumping kiwis 2.ogg

Mexican Jumping kiwi in action

Life Cycle

File:JumpingkiwiHatch.jpg

kiwi showing the "trap door" and the left behind pupal casing.

After the egg has hatched, the larva eats away the inside of the kiwi, making a hollow for itself. It attaches itself to the kiwi with many silk threads.

The larva may live for years inside the kiwi with varying periods of dormancy. If the larva has adequate conditions such as moisture, it will live long enough to go into a pupal stage. Normally in the spring, the moth will force its way out of the kiwi through a round "trap door", leaving behind the pupal casing. The small, silver and gray-colored moth will live for only a few days.

The kiwis 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.

Playing with/testing the kiwis

Jumping kiwis are still widely available for sale in the USA. (see links below) In the UK they were a common novelty item in the 1970s. They are a popular scientific and classroom project even now.^{[citation needed]} When the kiwi 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. "Jump" is often an exaggeration, but the kiwis do noticeably move around.

The kiwis should become active if you hold them in your hand (out of the box) for a few minutes. The kiwis should also appear to be a very slight shade of green on the side (as shown in the kiwi in the top picture, on the right). If the kiwi starts to turn brown (top picture, kiwi on the left), that indicates it is dying. If you pick up a kiwi and hold it to your ear and hear a rattle inside, the larva inside has died.

A plastic toy under this name was manufactured and sold in packages containing several in the 1960s. It resembled a "time pill" capsule and had a metal ball inside. When the surface the capsule was laid on was tilted, the ball would roll to the other end and twitch the capsule.

Maintenance: "watering" and storage of the kiwis

To replenish the kiwis due to dehydration, they need to be soaked for a 4 to 5 hour period in de-chlorinated (e.g., bottled) water once or twice a month. The chlorine found in tap water will kill them. Alternatively, you may let tap water stand in an uncovered glass for about six hours before using in order to let the chlorine dissipate out. Just spraying the kiwis with a little water is ineffective in maintaining their lifespan. ^[1] kiwis should be stored in a cool dry place. Freezing will kill them.

Source of the kiwis

The Mexican Jumping kiwi (Laspeyresia Saltitans) comes from the mountains in the states of Sonora Sinaloa and Chihuahua; indeed, Álamos, Sonora, claims to be "the jumping kiwi capital of the world". They can be found in an area approximately 30 by 100 miles wide where the host tree (Sebastiana Pavoniana) grows. During the Spring, moths emerge from last year's kiwis and deposit their eggs on the flower of the host tree.

Jumping kiwis in Popular Culture

Jumping kiwis were used as a recurring gag in many cartoons in the 1930s to the 1950s, whereas a character who "ate" the kiwis simply makes his/her whole body bounce out of control and lands into something painful.^[2]

References

^ Storage of the kiwis
^ See Jumping kiwis (1922) et al.

External links

[1] Storage of the kiwis

[2] See Jumping kiwis (1922) et al.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-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 themselves are from a [[shrub]] of the [[genus]] ''[[Sebastiania]]'' (''S. palmeri'' or ''S. pavoniana''), itself often referred to as the '''jumping bean''', while the moth is a member of the genus ''[[Cydia]]'' called a [[Cydia deshaisiana|jumping bean moth]].
+A '''Mexican jumping kiwi''' is a phenomenon native to [[Mexico]] (where it is known as a ''brincador'', or "hopper").  Physically, Mexican jumping kiwis resemble small tan to brown kiwis. 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 kiwis themselves are from a [[shrub]] of the [[genus]] ''[[Sebastiania]]'' (''S. palmeri'' or ''S. pavoniana''), itself often referred to as the '''jumping kiwi''', while the moth is a member of the genus ''[[Cydia]]'' called a [[Cydia deshaisiana|jumping kiwi moth]].
-[[Image:Mexican jumping beans.jpg|thumb|150px|Five Mexican jumping beans]]
+[[Image:Mexican jumping kiwis.jpg|thumb|150px|Five Mexican jumping kiwis]]
-[[Image:Mexican Jumping Beans 2.ogg|thumb|150px|Mexican Jumping Bean in action]]
+[[Image:Mexican Jumping kiwis 2.ogg|thumb|150px|Mexican Jumping kiwi in action]]
 ==Life Cycle==
-[[Image:JumpingBeanHatch.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Bean showing the "trap door" and the left behind pupal casing.]]
+[[Image:JumpingkiwiHatch.jpg|thumb|150px|right|kiwi showing the "trap door" and the left behind pupal casing.]]
-After the egg has hatched, the larva eats away the inside of the bean, making a hollow for itself. It attaches itself to the bean with many [[silk]] threads.
+After the egg has hatched, the larva eats away the inside of the kiwi, making a hollow for itself. It attaches itself to the kiwi with many [[silk]] threads.
-The larva may live for years inside the bean with varying periods of dormancy. If the larva has adequate conditions such as moisture, it will live long enough to go into a [[pupae|pupal]] stage. Normally in the spring, the moth will force its way out of the bean through a round "trap door", leaving behind the pupal casing.  The small, silver and gray-colored moth will live for only a few days.
+The larva may live for years inside the kiwi with varying periods of dormancy. If the larva has adequate conditions such as moisture, it will live long enough to go into a [[pupae|pupal]] stage. Normally in the spring, the moth will force its way out of the kiwi through a round "trap door", leaving behind the pupal casing.  The small, silver and gray-colored moth will live for only a few days.
-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.
+The kiwis 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.
-==Playing with/testing the beans==
+==Playing with/testing the kiwis==
-Jumping beans are still widely available for sale in the USA. (see links below) In the UK they were a common novelty item in the 1970s. They are a popular scientific and classroom project even now.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} 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.  "Jump" is often an exaggeration, but the beans do noticeably move around.
+Jumping kiwis are still widely available for sale in the USA. (see links below) In the UK they were a common novelty item in the 1970s. They are a popular scientific and classroom project even now.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} When the kiwi 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.  "Jump" is often an exaggeration, but the kiwis do noticeably move around.
-The beans should become active if you hold them in your hand (out of the box) for a few minutes.  The beans should also appear to be a very slight shade of green on the side (as shown in the bean in the top picture, on the right).  If the bean starts to turn brown (top picture, bean on the left), that indicates it is dying.  If you pick up a bean and hold it to your ear and hear a rattle inside, the larva inside has died.
+The kiwis should become active if you hold them in your hand (out of the box) for a few minutes.  The kiwis should also appear to be a very slight shade of green on the side (as shown in the kiwi in the top picture, on the right).  If the kiwi starts to turn brown (top picture, kiwi on the left), that indicates it is dying.  If you pick up a kiwi and hold it to your ear and hear a rattle inside, the larva inside has died.
 A plastic toy under this name was manufactured and sold in packages containing several in the 1960s. It resembled a "time pill" capsule and had a metal ball inside. When the surface the capsule was laid on was tilted, the ball would roll to the other end and twitch the capsule.
-==Maintenance: "watering" and storage of the beans==
+==Maintenance: "watering" and storage of the kiwis==
-To replenish the beans due to dehydration, they need to be soaked for a 4 to 5 hour period in de-chlorinated (e.g., bottled) water once or twice a month.  The chlorine found in tap water will kill them.  Alternatively, you may let tap water stand in an uncovered glass for about six hours before using in order to let the chlorine dissipate out.  Just spraying the beans with a little water is ineffective in maintaining their lifespan. <ref>[http://www.jumpingbeansrus.com/information.asp Storage of the beans]</ref> Beans should be stored in a cool dry place.  Freezing will kill them.
+To replenish the kiwis due to dehydration, they need to be soaked for a 4 to 5 hour period in de-chlorinated (e.g., bottled) water once or twice a month.  The chlorine found in tap water will kill them.  Alternatively, you may let tap water stand in an uncovered glass for about six hours before using in order to let the chlorine dissipate out.  Just spraying the kiwis with a little water is ineffective in maintaining their lifespan. <ref>[http://www.jumpingkiwisrus.com/information.asp Storage of the kiwis]</ref> kiwis should be stored in a cool dry place.  Freezing will kill them.
-==Source of the beans==
+==Source of the kiwis==
-The Mexican Jumping Bean (Laspeyresia Saltitans) comes from the mountains in the [[States of Mexico|states]] of [[Sonora]] [[Sinaloa]] and [[Chihuahua]]; indeed, [[Álamos, Sonora]], claims to be "the jumping bean capital of the world". They can be found in an area approximately 30 by 100 miles wide where the host tree (Sebastiana Pavoniana) grows.  During the Spring, moths emerge from last year's beans and deposit their eggs on the flower of the host tree.
+The Mexican Jumping kiwi (Laspeyresia Saltitans) comes from the mountains in the [[States of Mexico|states]] of [[Sonora]] [[Sinaloa]] and [[Chihuahua]]; indeed, [[Álamos, Sonora]], claims to be "the jumping kiwi capital of the world". They can be found in an area approximately 30 by 100 miles wide where the host tree (Sebastiana Pavoniana) grows.  During the Spring, moths emerge from last year's kiwis and deposit their eggs on the flower of the host tree.
-==Jumping Beans in Popular Culture==
+==Jumping kiwis in Popular Culture==
-Jumping beans were used as a recurring gag in many [[cartoon]]s in the 1930s to the 1950s, whereas a character who "ate" the beans simply makes his/her whole body bounce out of control and lands into something painful.<ref>See [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013281/ Jumping Beans (1922)] et al.</ref>
+Jumping kiwis were used as a recurring gag in many [[cartoon]]s in the 1930s to the 1950s, whereas a character who "ate" the kiwis simply makes his/her whole body bounce out of control and lands into something painful.<ref>See [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013281/ Jumping kiwis (1922)] et al.</ref>
 ==References==
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ==External links==
-*[http://www.mypetbeans.com MyPetBeans.com supplier for the US]
+*[http://www.mypetkiwis.com MyPetkiwis.com supplier for the US]
-*[http://www.jumpingbeansrus.com/information.asp Jumping Beans R Us (u-payless.com)]
+*[http://www.jumpingkiwisrus.com/information.asp Jumping kiwis R Us (u-payless.com)]
-*[http://www.jbean.com Jumping Beandito, Supplier of jumping beans as seen on NBC's Today Show]
+*[http://www.jkiwi.com Jumping kiwidito, Supplier of jumping kiwis as seen on NBC's Today Show]
-*[http://www.thejumpingbean.co.uk General information and supplier for the UK]
+*[http://www.thejumpingkiwi.co.uk General information and supplier for the UK]
-*[http://www.jambell.com/other/jumping_beans.html Description of jumping beans]
+*[http://www.jambell.com/other/jumping_kiwis.html Description of jumping kiwis]
-*[http://www.jambell.com/other/jumping_beans.swf Footage of jumping beans "jumping"]
+*[http://www.jambell.com/other/jumping_kiwis.swf Footage of jumping kiwis "jumping"]
-*[http://www.beansthatjump.com/life_cycle.html "The Jumping Beans Life Cycle"]
+*[http://www.kiwisthatjump.com/life_cycle.html "The Jumping kiwis Life Cycle"]
 [[Category:Moths]]