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Amezcal worm is aninsectlarva found in some types ofmezcal produced inOaxaca,Mexico. The larva is ared maguey worm, thecaterpillar of theComadia redtenbacheri moth, usually calledchinicuil orgusano rojo ("red worm"). The red worm is typically considered tastier than awhite maguey worm.[1]
Although the custom is relatively recent, larvae are used by several brands of mezcal to give flavor to the drink. In 1950, Jacobo Lozano Paez first introduced the practice of adding larvae to mezcal.[1]
The other variety of "worm" in mezcal is thelarva of aweevil known aspicudo del agave,Scyphophorus acupunctatus, the agave snout weevil, that infests certain species ofyucca andmaguey.[2] They are not related to ediblemaguey worms.
The weevil is a pest that can severely damageagave plants by eating the plant to death from the inside. If only a few infest the plant, they can still carry and infect the plant with harmfulbacteria leading to plant death. In some cases, up to 40% of a maguey harvest has been lost to weevil infestations. Infection-resistant varieties of the plant are being developed.[citation needed]
Picudo larvae may be roasted and eaten; they are a seasonal specialty of markets in southeastern Mexico.
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