Scaeva affinis, commonly known as the white-bowed smoothwing, is a species of hoverfly found in western North America. The larval form feeds voraciously on aphids. 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. This species is believed to be migratory. In 1823, Thomas Say originally described it as "tergum black with three yellow lunules on each side...inhabits Arkansa." S. affinis was later combined with (and then determined to be a distinct species and was split back off from) Scaeva pyrastri.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of White-bowed Smoothwing being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera
- Family
- Syrphidae
- Genus
- Scaeva
- Species
- Scaeva affinis
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