Banded Burdock Fly

Terellia tussilaginis, the gall fly, is a species of tephritid or fruit flies in the family Tephritidae.

Distribution

This species is present in most of Europe, in European Russia and in the East Palearctic ecozone.

Habitat

These flies inhabit meadows, gardens and where the host plants grow.

Description

Terellia tussilaginis can reach a body length of about 5 millimetres (0.20 in). These fruit flies have a pale green yellow body with distinctive brown banding on its wings. The costal cell is completely hyaline. Katepisternum shows reddish spots. The anterior half of mesonotum is reddish to brown. Tergite 4 is usually black.

Biology

Adults can be seen from June to August. The larvae live in the flowerheads of Arctium lappa, Arctium minus, Arctium tomentosum and Cirsium vulgare, feeding on them and causing galls to form.

References