Tephritis formosa

Description

Length males 4 to 5 mm, females 5 to 6 mm. It has light beige wings that are boldly patterned with dark markings, the wing tip is clear with two small dark marks. 

Identification difficulty

Adult Gall

Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed.

Habitat

Most well vegetated places, especially meadows and grassland where the larval host plants grow.

Life History

The host plants for the larvae are Hawk's-beard, Cat's-ear and Sow-thistle flower heads, causing galls to form on them.

UK Status

Quite common and widespread, at least in southern Britain.

VC55 Status

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Flies
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Tephritidae
Records on NatureSpot:
100
First record:
05/05/2009 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
03/03/2024 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records