Rhagoletis tabellaria
This record describes Rhagoletis tabellaria (species). Recorded family: Tephritidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
body mostly black; 4 white longitudinal stripes on back; scutellum white; abdomen with thin white bands; cross-banded wing pattern is distinctive
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Tephritoidea
- Family
- Tephritidae (Fruit Flies)
- Subfamily
- Trypetinae
- Tribe
- Carpomyini
- Genus
- Rhagoletis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
in the West, British Columbia south to California and Arizona in the East, from Pennsylvania and eastern Quebec to Manitoba and Nebraska, with BugGuide records from New Brunswick and New Jersey
Diet and Behavior
Diet: In the East, the only known foodplant is Cornus sp. (dogwood), with a particular fondness for Cornus amonum (silky dogwood).
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Rhagoletis tabellaria. 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 Rhagoletis tabellaria (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by anitagould
Frequently Asked Questions About Rhagoletis tabellaria
What is Rhagoletis tabellaria?
Rhagoletis tabellaria is a species in the family Tephritidae, within the order Diptera.
How do you identify Rhagoletis tabellaria?
body mostly black; 4 white longitudinal stripes on back; scutellum white; abdomen with thin white bands; cross-banded wing pattern is distinctive
Where is Rhagoletis tabellaria found?
Range: in the West, British Columbia south to California and Arizona in the East, from Pennsylvania and eastern Quebec to Manitoba and Nebraska, with BugGuide records from New Brunswick and New Jersey
What does Rhagoletis tabellaria eat?
The diet of the Rhagoletis tabellaria includes In the East, the only known foodplant is Cornus sp. (dogwood), with a particular fondness for Cornus amonum (silky dogwood)..