Somen preserved as long until it loses oil and becomes smooth with increased eating quality, and it is often valued referred to as 'mushitsuki somen' (literally meaning somen with worms) meaning that the somen has been preserved so long it has worms.
長期間保存され油分が抜けるとサラサラとした口当たりになり食味が増すとして、虫がつくほど保存したとの意味で「虫つき素麺」と称し珍重される場合もある。