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

Tephritidae The Tephritidae are one of two fly families referred to as fruit flies, the other family being the Drosophilidae. The family Tephritidae does not include the biological model organisms of the genus '' Drosophila'' (in the family Drosophilidae ...

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 . These fruit flies have a pale green yellow body with distinctive brown banding on its wings.Nature Spot
/ref> 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 lappa'', commonly called greater burdock, , edible burdock, lappa, beggar's buttons, thorny burr, or happy major is a Eurasian species of plants in the family Asteraceae, cultivated in gardens for its root used as a vegetable. It has b ...

'', ''

Arctium minus ''Arctium minus'', commonly known as lesser burdock, little burdock, louse-bur, common burdock, button-bur, cuckoo-button, or wild rhubarb, is a biennial plant native to Europe. Description ''Arctium minus'' is a biennial plant growing up to ...

'', ''

Arctium tomentosum ''Arctium tomentosum'', commonly known as the woolly burdock or downy burdock, is a species of burdock belonging to the family Asteraceae. The species was described by Philip Miller in 1768. Distribution This species is native to Eurasia from Sp ...

'' and ''

Cirsium vulgare ''Cirsium vulgare'', commonly known as spear thistle, bull thistle, or common thistle, is a species of the Asteraceae genus ''Cirsium'', native throughout most of Europe (north to 66°N, locally 68°N), Western Asia (east to the Yenisei Valley ...

'', feeding on them and causing galls to form.iNaturalist
/ref>

References

Tephritinae Diptera of Europe Insects described in 1775 Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius {{Tephritinae-stub