蝄

蝄 begins the classical spirit-name 蝄蜽. In 《国语》, an ancient Chinese history text, 蝄蜽 names a mountain spirit associated with wood and stone. A commentary says it imitates human speech to mislead people.

The same name is also written 魍魎; 蝄蜽 is an older or variant spelling. The passage lists 夔, 罔象, and 羵羊 alongside it as other uncanny beings.

In 蝄, 虫 points to a creature and 罔 supplies the Mandarin sound wǎng. The character writes the first part of a name; by itself, it gives little clue to the full reference.