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Before the moth caterpillar forms a chrysalis the plant gall tissue
enveloping the central cavity ruptures irregularly and the “jumping
bean” a hard, oval case (6 x 4 mm in diameter) drops to the ground
where it jumps around for six weeks or more. By constricting its
body and then straightening with a sudden force against the inside
wall of the case, the caterpillar makes the bean jump. By jumping
the “beans” work their way into the leaf litter
to avoid predation and parasitism.
Nevertheless this bean has been parasitized by a wasp, which as an
adult chewed the exit hole to escape.
Photographs © Simon van
Noort |
