soldier fly
Refers to flies of the family Stratiomyidae, especially the species Stratiomys japonica. The word is usually written in katakana as ミズアブ.
Soldier flies are often seen near water.
This larva is a soldier fly larva.
Katakana spelling is common for this insect name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare; the insect is normally written in kana.
Compound of 水 (mizu, 'water') and 虻 (abu, 'horsefly'), referring to a fly often found near water. The exact derivation is straightforward.