Comadia redtenbacheri
| Comadia redtenbacheri | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Cossidae |
| Genus: | Comadia |
| Species: | C. redtenbacheri |
| Binomial name | |
| Comadia redtenbacheri (Hammerschmidt, 1848) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Comadia redtenbacheri, also known as the agave redworm moth, is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded in Mexico and southern Texas.[1]
The moth was first named in 1848 by Austrian entomologist Carl Eduard Hammerschmidt (1800–1874) in honour of his colleague Ludwig Redtenbacher (1814–1876).[2]
The length of the forewings is 12–14 mm for males and 13–16 mm for females.[3] Adults have been recorded on wing from April to May and in September.[4] The moth lays its eggs near the base of the Agave leaves.[3]
It is widely used in its larval form as the "worm" in mezcal. The rising popularity of mezcal could potentially subject the moth to overharvesting.[5]
A dish of roasted chinicuiles in a market in Tula de Allende, Mexico
See also
References
- ↑ Comadia at funet
- ↑ "Comadia redtenbacheri". Lepindex.
- 1 2 Brown, R.M. (1975). "A revision the North American Comadia (Cossidae)". The Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera. 14 (4): 180–212.
- ↑ "Cossidae53a0045 – 2689 Comadia redtenbacheri (Hammerschmidt, 1848)". mothphotographersgroup.
- ↑ Pinson, Jerald (March 8, 2023). "Scientists uncover the unexpected identity of mezcal worms". Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
External links
- "Lepidoptera generic names catalog". Natural History Museum.