Mezcal “Worm” in a Bottle Mystery: DNA Testing Reveals a Surprise
DNA testing of the 'worms' found in mezcal bottles revealed that they are actually caterpillars of the agave redworm moth (Comadia redtenbacheri). The study analyzed 18 larvae from commercially available bottles and found that they all belonged to the same species.
Mezcal, a spirit with deep roots in Mexican culture, sometimes contains a larva at the bottom of the bottle known as a gusano de maguey. For decades, the identity of this larva was unclear, with various explanations suggesting it was a moth, butterfly, or weevil. Researchers turned to DNA analysis to settle the question. They collected larvae from commercially available bottles of mezcal and successfully extracted and analyzed DNA from 18 specimens. The DNA analysis revealed that every larva matched the agave redworm moth (Comadia redtenbacheri). The finding suggests that the larvae are not a mix of agave-eating insects, but rather a specific species. The researchers suspect that long exposure to alcohol may bleach the larvae over time, explaining the variation in color observed in bottled gusanos.
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