bees, hornets, wasps
蠭 centers on stinging flying insects that live in colonies: bees, hornets, and wasps. The character groups them under one broad insect concept.
蠭 combines 逢 (meeting, encountering) with 䖵 (insects), suggesting a swarm of insects that gather or are encountered together. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character likely emphasizes the collective nature of bees, hornets, and wasps.
The top 逢 suggests meeting or encountering, and the bottom 䖵 shows two insects. Imagine walking into a swarm of bees, hornets, or wasps that you suddenly encounter—the whole character is a mass of stinging insects.
For ホウ, picture a loud hornet buzzing: the sound 'hou' mimics the deep buzz of a hornet, and the character 蠭 represents hornets and bees. Hou -> ホウ.