Entomologist identifies worm species found in mezcal bottles
An entomologist ordered mezcal while on vacation in Mexico and launched a research project after noticing a worm in the bottom of the glass. Akito Kawahara, a researcher at the Florida Museum of Natural History, wanted to identify the worm despite alcohol having altered its appearance. He and his team brought multiple bottles home, extracted tissue, and used DNA sequencing to identify the larvae. The worm turned out to be the agave redworm moth, Comadia redtenbacheri, which lives on a specific agave plant in Oaxaca. Kawahara tracked down the agave fields and learned that to collect the worms, producers must burrow them out, often killing the plant. There are concerns that growing demand for mezcal and its worms could further endanger both the insect and the already endangered agave plant. The identification is a first step toward developing a more sustainable harvesting method.
What’s reported
Entomologist Akito Kawahara ordered mezcal on vacation in Mexico and saw a worm in the glass.
Kawahara is a researcher at the Florida Museum of Natural History, part of the University of Florida in Gainesville.
He brought bottles home, removed the worms, took digital images, and extracted DNA for sequencing.
The larvae were identified as Comadia redtenbacheri, the agave redworm moth.
The species lives on one specific type of agave plant in Oaxaca.
To collect the worms, producers burrow them out, often killing the agave plant.
There are concerns that increasing demand for mezcal and its worms could further risk the worm and the already endangered agave plant.
Key figures
Akito Kawahara – entomologist, researcher at Florida Museum of Natural History.
Sources: NPR
