Maguey worms or tequila worms are the caterpillars of two species of Lepidopteran that feed on agave plants. The caterpillars are not found in bottles of tequila, but rather some brands of mezcal, and usually as nothing more than a marketing gimmick. They’re also sometimes used in Mexican cuisine.
Photos 1-5 are the red maguey worm and adult moth, Comadia redtenbacheri, a type of carpenter moth in the family Cossidae.
Photos 6-9 are the white maguey worm and adult butterfly known as the tequila giant skipper, Aegiale hesperiaris.
Honorable mention to the agave weevil (combined photo 10/11), Scyphophorus acupunctatus, whose larva is also occasionally used in mezcal.
Photo credit: 1-2 by blakesito, 3 by maractwin, 4-5 by gcwarbler, 6 by sorilet14, 7 by eduardo_antonio_caro, 8-9 by flecksy, and 10/11 by simon_oliver and fabienpiednoir