horsefly and bee; horsefly and wasp
Refers to the two insects together, often used in the proverb 虻蜂取らず (abuhachi torazu), meaning 'trying to catch both a horsefly and a bee and ending up with neither' — i.e., attempting two things at once and failing at both.
See also: 虻蜂取らず (あぶはちとらず)
Let's handle things one at a time so we don't end up like the person who tried to catch both a horsefly and a bee and got neither.
The word 'abuhachi' is rarely used outside of the proverb.
Standard kanji spelling for the compound meaning 'horsefly and bee/wasp'.
Katakana spelling, often used for emphasis or in informal contexts.
Compound of 虻 (abu, 'horsefly') and 蜂 (hachi, 'bee' or 'wasp'). The exact origin is uncertain, but it is primarily known through the proverb 虻蜂取らず.