''Aegiale hesperiaris'' is a butterfly commonly known as the tequila giant skipper. It is monotypic in the genus ''Aegiale''. Its

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...

is one of two varieties of edible "

maguey worm Maguey worms ( es, gusano del maguey, ; ), are one of two species of edible caterpillars that infest maguey (''Agave americana'') and '' Agave tequilana'' plants. White maguey worm The white maguey worms, known as ''meocuiles'', are caterpillar ...

s" that infest maguey (''Agave americana'') and ''

Agave tequilana ''Agave tequilana'', commonly called blue agave () or tequila agave, is an agave plant that is an important economic product of Jalisco, Mexico, due to its role as the base ingredient of tequila, a popular distilled beverage. The high production ...

'' plants. The white maguey worm, known as ''meocuiles'', are

s of this species. It usually is found in regions of Central

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

, on the leaves of family Agavaceae plants, such as: ''

'' and ''

Agave americana ''Agave americana'', common names century plant, maguey, or American aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Mexico and the United States in Texas. It is cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant, and has b ...

'' (maguey). They are not found on

cacti A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek ...

, as is often erroneously reported. The butterflies deposit their eggs at the heart of the leaves of agaves. The larvae then eat the flesh of the agave stems and roots, sometimes boring out the agave completely.

References

External links

Uaemex.mx

Erionotini Edible insects Insects of Mexico Taxa named by Francis Walker (entomologist) {{Erionotini-stub