Yellow-shouldered Fruit Fly
Size 6mm, body only 4mm. This fly was observed on a rucola lettuce flower. I think I documented it laying an egg string. I am confident that this specimen belongs to the Tephritinae tribe. I think it might be the same species as http://www.aussiebugs.com.au/Diptera/Flies/i-d4HjdBT/A (accessed 1/9/2017) which is identified as Tephritis sp. ALA has a similar looking animal under Dioxyna sororcula (Wiedemann, 1830). Since two Queensland researchers published an article in the Australian Entemologist with the strange spelling D. sororuia in the abstract as shown in a journal paywall feed http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=074331052764691;res=IELHSS accessed 1/9/2017), I checked the original description. Morphologically, the ALA representations don't fit the original description but at least their spelling is correct. Since the Queensland experts claim variability of the species, I doubt that my specimen can be reliably identified based on pictures. The original description of the basionym Trypeta sororcula can be found on page 509 of http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/88495#page/527/mode/1up, accessed 1/9/2017. I'd be interested if molecular data has been analysed since the holotype was collected pre 1830 in Teneriffa and the taxon has undergone some revisions. It would be great to know if there are any Australian endemics or if all came into the continent with colonisers. The fly looks longish. Its marbled wings are quite obvious. Also the big black tapering abdomen looks scary. The head is nicely formed. My photo shows a reddish dot in its face which I miss in other representations. The 8 dorsal black dots are certainly missing in my specimen. Ventrally, there seems to be a pinkish stomach, well separated from the more hairy dorsum. The scutellar obviously provide an important discerning characteristic in this family. There is one set of hair as far as I can see. The legs match the original description, are orange-yellow with a black base and a dark tip. I gave this species the name based on its bright yellow shoulders that seem to merge into the rim of its wings. Update 3/10/2017: Sorry for sending AI into overdrive by naming one species with two names. Here is what I wrote under Black-tailed Fruit Fly this morning. Size 6mm. Quite long, but narrow yellow-orangeish body with mottled brown wings. The fly has a very visible pointed black tail. It looks very similar to what I call Spot-winged Fruit Fly. It was found on our thyme, sitting near the top and occasionally crawling a bit further, but not flying away when approached. The fly looks similar to Austrotephritis peonia. I am confident that it belongs to the family Tephritidae, a true fruit fly. I had assumed that it was a hunting stalker, but this impression was obviously wrong.
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Size 4mm, 6mm including body overlapping wings.
ArthropodaAustrotephritisAustrotephritis poeniaCyclorrhaphaDipteraGalleryHexapodaInsectaPterygotesTephritidaeTephritinaeTephritiniTephritoideaYellowshouldered Fruit Fly
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