DIPTERA > BRACHYCERA | Higher Diptera

MUSCOMORPHA > SCHIZOPHORA > Acalypratae > Tephritoidea > Tephritidae (77 species)

(subfamilies: Tephritinae and Trypetinae)

The noticeable feature of most tephritid fruit flies are their strongly patterned wings; a characteristic shared with three other closely related families, Pallopteridae, Ulidiidae and Platystomatidae, that together form a group of around 110 species commonly known as ‘picture-winged flies’. Each family has its own traits and, in respect of the Tephritidae, it’s that the larvae are all phytophagous. Some species cause gall formation and, as such, are often referred to as gall flies, whilst others are notorious agricultural and horticultural pests. The larvae of the different species develop in various parts of the host plant, many in seed-heads or fruits, while others target the roots or mine in stems and leaves.

Whilst collectively called fruit flies, tephritids should not be confused with the Drosophilidae small fruit fly species. Adults are most likely to be seen on the host plant of the species, visiting flowers for nectar and pollen, or scavenging on rotting vegetation. Flower-rich sunny habitats, especially grasslands, meadows, field margins and some wetland habitats are all good places to find them.

Identification is almost solely from the wing markings as the pattern and colouration is pretty much unique to each species. Some are very similar, but the common species can usually be distinguished without much difficulty. The only problem is that there are a lot of species. They vary in size from about 2.5 to 10mm body length, but the 'key' mainly concentrates on the wing length as noted below.

The current taxonomic classification places these species in around 33 genera, separated into various tribes within two subfamilies, Tephritinae with 59 species and Trypetinae with 18 species; the taxonomy of each species can be seen when hovering over or enlarging any of the following photos.

Most species have acquired a common name relating to their larval host plant. Some, such as the notorious Celery Fly Euleia heraclei are well documented, but the majority have been conjured up by a particular author, which in this case is Steven Falk. I'm not sure how relevant they are, but they do give an immediate indication of where you're likely to find the species, so I've added them to the following notes.

Given that the wing pattern is the most important feature, which needs to be seen as it can't be easily described I haven't bothered listing any other identifying features apart from the average wing length (WL), in the following brief notes about the species I'm currently able to feature.  

Anomoia purmunda - WL: 3.7-5.0mm

Commonly known as the Speckled Berry Fly, alternatively the Haw Picturewing;

adults are attracted to hawthorn bushes where the females lay their eggs;

widespread and fairly frequent, particularly across central and southern areas.

Chetostoma curvinerve - WL: 4.7-7.4mm

Sometimes referred to as the Honeysuckle Picturewing;

most likely to be seen early in the year from February to May and possibly again in the autumn;

likes sunbathing on the leaves of evergreen shrubs, such as holly, ivy or rhododendron;

the larval foodplant is currently uncertain, but probably honeysuckle;

Infrequent with relatively few scattered records, slowly spreading northwards.

Euleia heraclei - WL: 4.3-5.8mm

Commonly known as the Celery Fly, alternatively the Hogweed Picturewing;

can be frequent in gardens and allotments where celery and parsnips are grown;

adults occur in two colour morphs, black and occasionally brown;

the larvae cause damage to the leaves of celery, but will also feed on other plants such as hogweed;

widespread and fairly frequent in most areas, but becoming scarcer further north.

Tephritis formosa - WL: 3.8-4.6mm

Sometimes referred to as the Sowthistle Tephritis, a name used by Steven Falk;

usually found in well-vegetated locations including grassland, meadows and garden;

the larvae cause galls in the heads of their favoured host plants; Sow-thistle, Hawk's-beard and Cat's-ear;

relatively widespread and common across most central and southern areas.

Tephritis neesii - WL: 3.5-4.5mm

Sometimes referred to as the Oxeye Daisy Tephritis, a name used by Steven Falk;

adults can usually be found from April onwards, usually in the vicinity of the larval foodplant;

females lay their eggs on the head of Leucanthemum species, especially Leucanthemum vulgare;

widespread and fairly frequent in most areas, perhaps less so in the west, and becoming scarcer in the north.  

Urophora cardui - WL: 4.9-5.3mm

Widely known as the Thistle Gall Fly;

a common species that flies from May to around the beginning of September;

the larvae develop in the stems of thistle, causing galls inside which they overwinter;

frequently observed, but pretty much restricted to central and southern areas.

Urophora jaceana - WL: 3.5-4.3mm

Commonly known as the Greater Knapweed Gall Fly;

very similar to the much rarer species Urophora cuspidata, which has slightly different wing markings;

the larvae cause chambered galls in the flower heads of knapweed, most often in Centaurea scabiosa;

a generally widespread and common species occurring in most areas.

Updated Nov.24 (v.3)