Scaeva affinis, commonly known as the white-bowed smoothwing, is a species of hoverfly found in western North America.[1] The larval form feeds voraciously on aphids.[2] Scaeva affinis is the only Scaeva likely to be encountered in the Nearctic realm, where it is common in the west and rare in the east.[3] This species is believed to be migratory.[4] In 1823, Thomas Say originally described it as "tergum black with three yellow lunules on each side...inhabits Arkansa."[5] S. affinis was later combined with (and then determined to be a distinct species and was split back off from) Scaeva pyrastri.[6]

Scaeva affinis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Subfamily: Syrphinae
Tribe: Syrphini
Genus: Scaeva
Species:
S. affinis
Binomial name
Scaeva affinis
(Say, 1823)

References

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  1. ^ "White-bowed Smoothwing (Scaeva affinis)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  2. ^ "Species Scaeva affinis". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  3. ^ Skevington, Jeffrey H.; Locke, Michelle M.; Young, Andrew D.; Moran, Kevin; Crins, William J.; Marshall, Stephen A. (2019-05-14). Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. Princeton University Press. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-691-19251-2.
  4. ^ "Insect Migrations". Royal Ontario Museum. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  5. ^ "American entomology. A description of the insects of North America, Say, Thomas, 1787-1834., Ord, George, 1781-1866, Le Conte, John Lawrence, ed. 1825-1883". Making of America (University of Michigan).
  6. ^ "Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America" (PDF).