蠃
luǒ
The solitary wasp.
Meaning
Predatory insect; specifically the solitary wasp.
Distinctions
There is significant overlap between this glyph and 螂 (mantis). Because they share a phonetic component (郎), they may be used interchangeably in ancient texts or may refer to a general category of predatory insects rather than making a strict biological distinction.
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History and forms
Often listed as variants of one another (蠃 and 螂).
Translator notes
Given the rarity of this glyph, be alert to the possibility of scribal substitution or orthographic variation with 螂. If the context strongly suggests a mantis—which is a far more common literary subject—the glyph is likely functioning as 螂. To distinguish between the two, rely on behavioral descriptors: stinging and nesting suggest a wasp; ambush predation and "praying" forelegs suggest a mantis.
Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.