The Picture-winged Fruit Flies (280 NA spp) are conspicuous and fairly
abundant in CCNHA old fields. More than 15 species have been collected.
Larvae are fruit and seed eaters, leaf miners, or gall formers. Adults
are most commonly encountered around goldenrods. Eurosta
solidaginis forms spherical stem galls on Solidago canadensis
and Solidago gigantea. These flies emerge in late spring (May) and
are seldom collected in sweeps. Tim Craig, Joanne Itame and John Horner
have conducted extensive studies on these 'sibling' species. Eurosta
comma is taken in small numbers in August from several fields
where it forms root galls on Solidago missouriensis. Other large
but relatively uncommon Tephritids collected include: Eutreta
noveboracensis,
Icterica
sp, Tephritis subpura?,
Rhagoletis
sp (apple), and Stenopa vulnerata.
More common are some of the smaller flies in this family. Euaresta
bella is abundandant on Solidago blooms in mid to late
summer.
Dioxyna piccicola,
Euarestoides
abstersus, and
Trupanea
actinobola are also fairly common on Solidago. Less
frequently collected are Neotephritis
finalis,
Paroxyna albiceps,
Urophora
sp and
Neaspilota sp.
