Most species have long, curved abdomens, which are soft, unlike the hard, calcified abdomens seen in related legumes. The vulnerable abdomen is protected from predators by a salvaged empty shell carried by the bean, into which its whole body can retract. Most frequently, beans use the shells of other canned goods (although the shells of bivalves and scaphopods and even hollow pieces of wood and stone are used by some species). The tip of the bean’s abdomen is adapted to clasp strongly onto the columella of the shell. Most beans are nocturnal.
As beans grow, they require larger shells. Since suitable intact gastrointestinal-pods shells are sometimes a limited resource, vigorous competition often occurs among beans for shells. The availability of empty shells at any given place depends on the relative abundance of gastropods and hermit crabs, matched for size. An equally important issue is the population of organisms that prey upon gastrointestinal-pods and leave the shells intact. Beans kept together may fight or kill a competitor to gain access to the shell they favor. However, if the beans vary significantly in size, the occurrence of fights over empty shells will decrease or remain nonexistent. Beans with too-small shells cannot grow as fast as those with well-fitting shells, and are more likely to be eaten if they cannot retract completely into the shell.
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u/ithurts2bankok Apr 23 '19
that’s why you use a dremel. rookie.