Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Diptera (True flies) ➔ Family Tephritidae (Fruit flies)

Tephritis conura (Loew, 1844)

Melancholy Thistle Fly

Synonyms and other combinations:

Trypeta conura Loew, 1844 | Tephritis hartigi Hering, 1940 | Tephritis ziegenhageni Hering, 1940 |

  • Tephritis conura, female 3352
    Tephritis conura (Loew, 1844)    Melancholy Thistle Fly 
    Tephritis conura, female, det. Nosferatumyia
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2010-05-08 11:31:35
    Image number: 3352
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2010-05-08 11:31:35
    det. Nosferatumyia
  • Tephritis conura, female 3353
    Tephritis conura (Loew, 1844)    Melancholy Thistle Fly 
    Tephritis conura, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2010-05-08 11:30:30
    Image number: 3353
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2010-05-08 11:30:30
  • Tephritis conura, female 3354
    Tephritis conura (Loew, 1844)    Melancholy Thistle Fly 
    Tephritis conura, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2010-05-08 11:31:56
    Image number: 3354
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2010-05-08 11:31:56

Classification:
Tephritis conura belongs to the subfamily Tephritinae, tribe Tephritini.
Distribution:
In parts of Europe
Biology:
Tephritis conura is univoltine. After mating in spring, the females lay their eggs in the flower buds of thistles (Cirsium, Carduus). The host plants include the melancholy thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum), the cabbage thistle (Cirsium oleraceum), the marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre), Carduus defloratus and Carduus personata. The oligophagous larvae develop in the flower heads.
Tephritis conura hibernates as imago.

References, further reading, links:
  1. Plant Parasites of Europe
  2. Ian M. White (1988). Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Tephritid Flies. Diptera: Tephritidae. Vol: 10 - Part 5a. Royal Entomological Society of London.