Bathurst Burr Seed Fly
Euaresta bullans
This record describes Euaresta bullans (species). Recorded family: Tephritidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
host plants are invasive weeds, but the fly is not an effective control agent
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Tephritoidea
- Family
- Tephritidae (Fruit Flies)
- Subfamily
- Tephritinae
- Tribe
- Tephritini
- Genus
- Euaresta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
native to South America; accidentally introduced to sw. US (CA-AZ) and other continents
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Cocklebur ( Xanthium spinosum, X. catharticum )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Euaresta bullans (Wiedemann 1830)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Euaresta bullans. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Bathurst Burr Seed Fly (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chris Mallory; Additional contributions by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Bathurst Burr Seed Fly
What is Bathurst Burr Seed Fly?
Bathurst Burr Seed Fly (Euaresta bullans) is a species in the family Tephritidae, within the order Diptera.
Where is Bathurst Burr Seed Fly found?
Range: native to South America; accidentally introduced to sw. US (CA-AZ) and other continents
What does Bathurst Burr Seed Fly eat?
The diet of the Bathurst Burr Seed Fly includes Cocklebur ( Xanthium spinosum, X. catharticum ).