Chahuis

Chahuis or xamoes are the common names given in Mexico to a variety of edible beetles within the insect order Coleoptera. The insects' common names in English are often "sticks worms", "rhinoceros beetle," or "grub".

Chahuis and gusanos de maguey sold in the market of Tula, Hidalgo, México

The chahuis insects feed on species of the Mesquite tree.

Particularly appreciated are the larvae of the following families: Cerambycidae, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthidae, and Passalidae.

Distribution

There are 88 species of Coleoptera, primarily their larvae, that are eaten in Mexico as escarabajos comestibles. They are found in, and part of the cuisine of, the Mexican states of:

Preparation

Chahuis must be toasted well, otherwise they have a bitter flavor.

See also
  • Escamol — the edible larvae of ants in Mexico.
  • Entomophagy — the human consumption of insects as food.

References
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