A common misconception is that high-quality tequila contains a worm. In reality, the 'worm' is never found in tequila; it is found only in certain bottles of Mezcal. Furthermore, it isn't actually a worm, but the larva of the *Comadia redtenbacheri* moth, which lives on the agave plant. The practice of adding the larva to the bottle began in the 1940s and 1950s as a marketing gimmick to distinguish Mezcal from Tequila and to suggest a 'magical' or potent quality to the drink. Some legends claimed the larva would change flavor or impart strength to the drinker, but it has no effect on the alcohol itself. Today, most premium Mezcals do not include the larva, as they focus on the complex, smoky flavors derived from roasting the agave hearts in underground pits.