Tradition / Region: Paraguay Mythology
Alternative names: Golden Honey Bee
Category: Insect
The Myth
The Eintykára are stingless bees renowned for producing golden honey with unusual properties. Their hives are marked by long tubular entrances, and the bees possess a remarkable power: by gathering together in great numbers, they can take the form of a human being.
Long ago, an elderly unmarried woman passed the same Eintykára hive every day. Fascinated by its shape, she often joked and fantasized aloud, wishing that the hive were a handsome man who could become her husband. Over time, she began speaking to the hive affectionately and even referred to it as her husband.
One night, a stranger appeared before her. He was extraordinarily handsome, with milky-white skin and hair the color of golden honey. He revealed that he was Eintykára, the very hive she had spoken to for so long, and that he had come to take her as his wife and provide for her people.
The two married and had children. Eintykára proved to be unusually wise and tireless, becoming admired throughout the village. He seemed never to eat. Instead, he would disappear into the forest, transform into a swarm of bees, gather nectar, and then return to human form. From his labors came beeswax and golden honey, which he generously shared with everyone. According to tradition, some fair-skinned members of the Chamacoco people are descendants of Eintykára and his children.
Another Eintykára once joined a different Chamacoco settlement and lived among the people. However, the village was attacked by enemies who set the houses ablaze. As the bee-man attempted to escape by transforming into a swarm, too many of his bees were consumed by the flames. Unable to survive the loss, he perished alongside the people he had chosen as his own.
Thus, the Eintykára are remembered not merely as magical bees, but as shapeshifting beings capable of becoming human, bringing prosperity and honey to those they love, and even founding entire bloodlines among the Chamacoco people.
Sources
A Book of Creatures. (2015, July 10). Eintykára. Retrieved June 13, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/07/10/eintykara/