Mythology!

Magic Hornet

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Tradition: Swedish Mythology
Alternative Names: The Devil’s Hornets, The Enchanted Hornets
Category: Insect

The Myth

The Magic Hornets are a swarm of enchanted insects kept inside a large hornets’ nest. Unlike ordinary hornets, they obey human commands and can be directed to attack a specific person. When released, they fly out in a swarm and sting their chosen target until someone orders them to stop. Their appearance is not described in detail, but their ability to act together under supernatural control makes them a powerful magical weapon.

Their abilities appear in a Swedish folktale titled The Rooster, the Hand-Mill and the Swarm of Hornets. In the story, a poor peasant sells a pig to a mysterious gentleman at the devil’s dwelling. In exchange, he receives a magical rooster that lays silver coins whenever commanded. However, an old woman who keeps a tavern steals the rooster while the peasant sleeps and replaces it with an ordinary bird.

The peasant returns to the gentleman and receives a second magical gift: a hand-mill that produces whatever kind of meal he requests and stops only when ordered. Unfortunately, the old woman steals this gift as well. When the peasant returns to complain for a second time, the gentleman gives him a large hornets’ nest filled with the enchanted insects.

The peasant takes the swarm to the tavern and boasts of his new possession. When the old woman asks to see it, he commands the hornets to emerge and sting her. The insects immediately attack, causing her to scream and beg for mercy. She promises to return both the stolen rooster and the magical mill if he calls them off.

The peasant agrees and orders the hornets to leave the woman alone and fly back into their nest. Having recovered his stolen gifts, he returns home with all three magical possessions, becomes wealthy, and lives happily until his death.

The story presents the Magic Hornets as instruments of supernatural punishment and a means of recovering what has been stolen. Their power depends on obedience to spoken commands: they can be unleashed against a victim but must also be ordered to stop. Although the tale gives them little individual characterization, their role is decisive. The threat of their stings finally forces the dishonest tavern keeper to surrender the peasant’s possessions.

Sources

Stroebe, Clara, ed. The Swedish Fairy Book. Translated by Frederick H. Martens. Illustrated by George W. Hood. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1921.


Akuta-mushi

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Akuta no Mushi; Akutamushi; Iron-Eating Insect
Category: Insect

The Myth

Akuta-mushi is a monstrous insect described in the Japanese text Shintō Yurai no Koto. It descended from the heavens during the reign of Emperor Yōmei (585–587), after the emperor expressed a desire to see a strange creature said to live in the sky and feed on iron. When the insect appeared, the emperor recognized it as the creature he had wished to see and ordered that it be kept and raised.

The insect fed on iron and grew to an enormous size, eventually becoming as large as a mountain. When iron was unavailable, it began devouring human beings instead. It also refused to obey the emperor’s commands, transforming from a remarkable creature into a threat to the imperial realm. The emperor ordered its destruction, but the insect’s body had become as hard as a mass of iron, rendering even swords useless against it.

As the people exhausted every possible means of defeating the monster, the sun goddess Amaterasu intervened. She submerged Akuta-mushi in a great river and finally destroyed it. According to the legend, the remains of its bones became gishaku, a magnetic stone obtained from the sea or other places and associated with the ability to attract iron.

The text survives in manuscripts dating to around the Muromachi period and presents Japanese myths within a worldview combining Shinto and Buddhist traditions. The story of Akuta-mushi appears in an explanation of the origins of Sakuku-no-Miya.

Although akuta-mushi resembles an old Japanese name for the cockroach, it is uncertain whether the creature in this story was intended to represent a real insect. Its tale follows a familiar pattern in which a ruler attempts to tame an extraordinary creature, only for it to grow uncontrollably powerful and turn against humanity. Similar stories describe the monstrous being known as Wazawai, whose iron-eating nature and magnetic remains also appear in the medieval Heike Monogatari tradition.

Sources

“Akuta-mushi.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1075890032.html


Kranokolaptes

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Tradition: Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology
Alternative Names: Head Striker
Category: Insect

The Myth

The Kranokolaptes is a deadly insect from ancient accounts of Egypt, described as resembling a moth with four soft, downy wings covered in a felt-like texture. Its wings leave behind a trail of ashy dust, while its body is thick and heavy, with a fat abdomen and a hard head that constantly nods. Beneath its head lies a deadly stinger, which the creature uses to attack humans.

The Kranokolaptes strikes at the head and neck, and its sting is said to cause instant death. Victims can survive only if treated with the creature’s own antidote: a Kranokolaptes drowned in oil. The insect is associated with the persea tree, where it develops, possibly a species of Mimusops.

Although the ancient writer Nicander classified the Kranokolaptes among spiders, its description bears little resemblance to an arachnid. Another ancient account describes it as green, though this may have resulted from a misreading of Nicander’s original description. Its deadly bite may explain why it was grouped alongside dangerous spiders despite its moth-like appearance.

Modern interpretations have suggested that the Kranokolaptes legend may have been inspired by large hawkmoths, whose thick bodies and prominent mouthparts resemble aspects of the creature. The vampire moth Calyptra thalictri offers another possible comparison because it can pierce skin to drink blood and rocks its head as it does so. However, its bite causes swelling and irritation rather than the instantaneous death attributed to the mythical Kranokolaptes.

Sources

“Kranokolaptes.” A Book of Creatures, December 12, 2016. https://abookofcreatures.com/2016/12/12/kranokolaptes/

Haftvad’s Worm

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Tradition: Persian Mythologym, Iranian Mythology
Alternative Names: The Worm of Haftvad; Haftvād’s Dragon
Category: Insect

The Myth

Haftvad’s Worm is a monstrous creature from the Shahnameh, the Persian Book of Kings. It begins as a tiny worm discovered inside an apple by Haftvad’s daughter while she is spinning cotton. Rather than discarding it, she considers its appearance a lucky omen and places it in her spindlecase. From that moment, her productivity increases dramatically: by the end of the day, she has spun twice as much cotton as usual.

The girl continues to feed the worm a piece of apple every day, and her cotton practically spins itself into fine thread. When her parents learn of her extraordinary success, she reveals the secret. Haftvad abandons his ordinary work to care for the creature, feeding it nourishing food until it grows too large for its spindlecase. Its skin is black like musk, marked with saffron-coloured patterns, and Haftvad places it inside a black chest.

The worm brings extraordinary fortune to Haftvad and his family, eventually transforming the fortunes of their entire town. As his wealth and influence grow, Haftvad gathers followers into an army, seizes control of the town, and kills a nobleman who resents his success. The creature grows alongside its master’s power, eventually becoming too large even for its chest. Haftvad moves it to his mountain fortress, where a specially constructed stone cistern serves as its new home.

There, Haftvad’s daughter feeds the creature rice, milk, and honey until it reaches the size of an elephant. With the worm’s supernatural luck behind him, Haftvad becomes so powerful that even the armies of Shah Ardashir struggle to defeat him. Ardashir sends two forces against Haftvad, but the first is defeated, while the second loses its resolve.

Ardashir eventually learns the truth: the worm is no ordinary animal, but a devil in disguise, perhaps even an incarnation of Ahriman, the destructive spirit of Persian mythology. Its death is the key to ending Haftvad’s power. Ardashir therefore enters the fortress disguised as a merchant, accompanied by trusted men carrying precious gifts, wine, lead, and a bronze cauldron. Claiming that he too has prospered through the worm’s favour, he offers wine to its guardians until they become drunk.

Ardashir then melts the lead in the cauldron and carries the molten metal to the worm’s cistern. The enormous creature raises its head, opens its mouth, and extends its red tongue, expecting food. Instead, Ardashir pours the boiling lead down its throat. The worm dies in terrible agony, its death throes shaking the foundations of the fortress.

With the worm dead, Haftvad’s supernatural fortune disappears. Ardashir’s forces quickly capture the fortress, and Haftvad and his eldest son are executed by being gibbeted and shot with arrows. The creature’s rise and destruction mark the end of Haftvad’s extraordinary power, revealing the danger hidden behind the worm’s seemingly miraculous gift of prosperity.

Sources

“Worm of Haftvad.” A Book of Creatures, December 18, 2020. https://abookofcreatures.com/2020/12/18/worm-of-haftvad/


Jiāochóng

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Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: Jiaochong; Youjiao Clan Deity
Category: Insect

The Myth

Jiāochóng is a supernatural being recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing). It has a human-like body with two heads and is described as the leader of stinging insects. The deity is associated with bees and other insects capable of stinging, and its presence is connected to the relationship between people and these creatures.

Jiāochóng is said to dwell on Mount Pingfeng, a barren mountain described as having no grass, trees, or water, but abundant sand and stone. From the mountain, one can look south toward the Yi and Luo rivers and east toward Mount Gucheng. Despite the desolate surroundings, the mountain is home to this unusual two-headed deity, which is associated with the nests or dwelling places of bees and other stinging insects.

The people worshipping Jiāochóng performed a ritual using a male chicken as an offering. However, the chicken was not to be killed: it was used to ward off misfortune during the ceremony and then released afterward. This ritual reflects the deity’s connection to stinging insects and the belief that it could be approached through a specific form of propitiation.

Jiāochóng was also associated with the totemic beliefs of the clan living around Mount Pingfeng, known as the Youjiao clan. The creature is mentioned in other traditional Chinese works, including the Shenyi Dian. The Shuowen Jiezi also records the character jiāo as meaning an insect, further connecting the name with the insect world.

Sources

“骄虫.” 维基百科，自由的百科全书. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 18, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AA%84%E8%99%AB


Saimōshō

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Pus-and-Blood Hell Worms
Category: Insect

The Myth

The Saimōshō are monstrous worms that inhabit the Pus and Blood Hell, one of the sixteen minor hells associated with the eight great hells in Buddhist cosmology. They are depicted as bee-like creatures that gather in swarms to attack the damned, pecking at their faces and devouring their flesh and bones.

According to the second volume of the Qishijing, translated into Chinese by Janagupta during the Sui dynasty, the Pus and Blood Hell punishes those who harboured wicked and foolish intentions during their lives and gave others filthy things to eat. The hell is filled with vast quantities of pus, and sinners are submerged in it up to their mouths and noses, leaving them trapped in a foul and agonizing environment.

The Saimōshō torment these sinners by consuming their flesh and bones, inflicting continual suffering. The Jigoku Zōshi (Scroll of Hell), preserved at the Nara National Museum, depicts this punishment with swarms of bee-like Saimōshō attacking the faces of sinners submerged in the sea of pus.

Sources

“Saimōshō.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010655138.html


Mytyl

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Tradition: Ossetian Mythology, Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Mytyl
Category: Insect

The Myth

Mytyl is an unattractive and lazy patron spirit in Ossetian mythology who protects small reptiles and insects. Although these creatures are tiny and often overlooked, Mytyl is responsible for their welfare and serves as their appointed guardian.

According to the legend, when the Almighty assigned protective guardians to the creatures of the world, he forgot about the small reptiles and insects. Left without protection, thousands of them perished. Fearing that their kind would disappear entirely, the surviving creatures gathered together and sent representatives to complain to the Almighty: a mosquito, a butterfly, and a locust.

The Almighty listened to their plea and appointed Mytyl as their patron spirit. Despite his unattractive appearance and lazy nature, Mytyl became the guardian of the small creatures that had previously been neglected. His appointment ensured that even the smallest forms of life had a protector within the divine order.

Sources

“Mytyl.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). https://www.bestiary.us/Mytyl

Kamakiri-zaka

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Praying Mantis Hill
Category: Insect

The Myth

Kamakiri-zaka is a haunted hill in Katagai-machi, Mishima District, Niigata Prefecture, associated with the curse of a gigantic praying mantis. According to local legend, a monstrous mantis once lived in the area, growing so enormous that it could devour human beings.

One winter, a severe snowstorm crushed the giant insect to death. However, its death did not end the danger associated with the creature. The hill became the site of a strange supernatural phenomenon believed to be caused by the dead mantis’s curse.

Ever since the creature’s death, anyone who falls on the hill is said to suffer sickle-shaped wounds that bleed black blood. These strange injuries resemble cuts made by a praying mantis’s sharp forelegs, suggesting that the enormous insect continues to exact revenge even after its death.

Sources

“Kamakiri-zaka.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010653961.html


Haakapainiži

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Tradition: Kawaiisu Mythology, Chemehuevi Mythology, American Mythology
Alternative Names: The Grasshopper; Aatakapitsi
Category: Insect

The Myth

Haakapainiži is a terrifying ogre from Kawaiisu folklore in Southern California, although he is said to live on a rock in a lake in Nevada. His most familiar form is that of a gigantic grasshopper walking upright on two canes, with a basket strapped to his back. His long legs are armed with viciously sharp spikes, and each stride carries him an extraordinary distance: his legs are said to be long enough for him to walk the twenty miles between Inyokern and Onyx in a single step.

Haakapainiži can assume several forms. Besides his giant grasshopper appearance, he may appear as an enormous humanoid, a harmless-looking old man, or an entire swarm of grasshoppers. He sings as he walks, concealing his wicked intentions behind a seemingly innocent tune. His favourite prey is children, whom he captures and stuffs into the basket on his back to devour later. Parents invoke his name to frighten misbehaving children, warning them that Haakapainiži is coming.

In one tale, Haakapainiži encounters a young girl and coughs mucus into his hand before offering it to her, calling it fat for his grandchild. When she reaches for it, he throws her into his basket and carries her away to Nevada, where he eats her. He attempts the same trick on a little boy, but the child manages to escape by grabbing an overhead branch before he can be carried off.

Haakapainiži’s deceptive nature also appears in a story about the Quail Sisters. He sleeps beside them and assures them that he will lie above their heads without stretching during the night. The sisters trust him, and when they awaken unharmed, they believe he is a kind old man. However, Haakapainiži then stretches his spiked legs and gouges out their eyes.

A parallel figure in Chemehuevi folklore is Aatakapitsi, whose stories closely resemble those of Haakapainiži. In one account, Aatakapitsi attacks the Yucca Date Worm girls in the same manner as Haakapainiži attacks the Quail Sisters. Their husband, Kwanantsitsi, the Red-Tailed Hawk, restores their eyes and sets out to avenge them. Yet whenever he approaches Aatakapitsi, the giant appears to shrink until he vanishes, leaving behind only a swarm of grasshoppers. Kwanantsitsi furiously strikes the insects with a stick until they are all dead. When he steps back, he discovers that the giant’s lifeless body has finally appeared.

Haakapainiži meets his end through the cleverness of Mouse. Mouse heats a stone used for sharpening arrows in a fire, then tricks the giant into opening his mouth by promising to feed him one of his children. Mouse throws the scorching stone into Haakapainiži’s mouth, burning his insides and killing him. According to the tradition, both Mouse’s home and the petrified remains of Haakapainiži can be seen at Inyokern.

Sources

“Haakapainizi.” A Book of Creatures, August 26, 2016. https://abookofcreatures.com/2016/08/26/haakapainizi/

Quvdlugiarsuaq

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Tradition: Greenlandic Mythology
Alternative Names: Giant Maggot
Category: Insect

The Myth

Quvdlugiarsuaq is a gigantic maggot from the folklore of Greenland, particularly tales associated with Aasiaat. It is so enormous that its body can provide enough blubber to sustain an entire dwelling through a long winter.

In the legend of Aqigsiaq, a dwelling place survives an entire winter on the blubber of a single Quvdlugiarsuaq. The story conveys the extraordinary size of this creature, which is far larger than an ordinary maggot.

Another creature from Greenlandic tradition, the Auseq, is described as a gigantic caterpillar. Unlike the account of Quvdlugiarsuaq, which emphasizes its immense size and the quantity of blubber it provides, the Auseq is specifically said to be dangerous to humans.

Sources

“Quvdlugiarsuaq.” A Book of Creatures, July 8, 2019. https://abookofcreatures.com/2019/07/08/quvdlugiarsuaq/