| Hypopta agavis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Cossidae |
| Genus: | Hypopta Jacob Hübner, 1820 |
| Species: | H. agavis |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypopta agavis |
|
Hypopta agavis, whose larvae are known in Spanish as chilocuil, chinicuil, or tecol , is a moth native to North America. Its larvae feed on the succulent leaves of the maguey, although they are not considered a plague, as they have been traditionally used as food in Mexican cuisine. The red-colored caterpillars are also known as gusanos rojos, giving its name to a popular brand of mezcal; they are one of the two kinds of "worms" placed in bottles of mezcal, giving a unique color and flavor to the drink. The other, less appreciated ones, are the larvae of the agave snout weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus.