Strauzia noctipennis
This record describes Strauzia noctipennis (species). Recorded family: Tephritidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults are found on the sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grossesrratus . Males have yellow or yellowish brown bodies with dark spots on the mesonotum near wings. Male wings have a very dark coalesced pattern. Females have yellow bodies and may also have small spots on mesonotum. Female wings have an F shaped pattern. Female Strauzia noctipennis and Strauzia arculata may be too morphologically similar to identify without genetic data. Male Strauzia noctipennis can be identified by their dark coalesced wing patterns. Females may be impossible to identify from Strauzia arculata females using morphological characteristics. Both Strauzia noctipennis and Strauzia arculata are found on the sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Tephritoidea
- Family
- Tephritidae (Fruit Flies)
- Subfamily
- Trypetinae
- Tribe
- Trypetini
- Genus
- Strauzia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Parasitizes the sawtooth sunflower, Helianthus grosseserratus .
Seasonal Activity
Adults are present in June and July. Larvae mine the pith of the plant stems in the fall and pupae overwinter in the root or soil.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Univoltine life cycle (1 generation per year). Adults meet and mate on their host plant Helianthus grosseserratus in June and July.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Strauzia noctipennis Stoltzfus 1988
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Strauzia noctipennis. 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 Strauzia noctipennis (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by ahippee
Frequently Asked Questions About Strauzia noctipennis
What is Strauzia noctipennis?
Strauzia noctipennis is a species in the family Tephritidae, within the order Diptera.
How big is Strauzia noctipennis?
Body length: Male: 5.8-8.0 mm. Female: 6.0-8.1 mm. (Stoltzfus 1988)
How do you identify Strauzia noctipennis?
Adults are found on the sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grossesrratus . Males have yellow or yellowish brown bodies with dark spots on the mesonotum near wings. Male wings have a very dark coalesced pattern. Females have yellow bodies and may also have small spots on mesonotum. Female wings have an F shaped pattern. Female Strauzia noctipennis and Strauzia arculata may be too morphologically similar to identify without genetic data.
Where is Strauzia noctipennis found?
Habitat: Parasitizes the sawtooth sunflower, Helianthus grosseserratus .
When is Strauzia noctipennis active?
Strauzia noctipennis: seasonal activity - Adults are present in June and July. Larvae mine the pith of the plant stems in the fall and pupae overwinter in the root or soil..
What is the life cycle of a Strauzia noctipennis?
Univoltine life cycle (1 generation per year). Adults meet and mate on their host plant Helianthus grosseserratus in June and July.