Thistle Gall Fly
Urophora cardui
This record describes Urophora cardui (species). Recorded family: Tephritidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
A small but striking fly. The male's wings have darker markings. The fly causes distinctive swollen stem galls on Creeping Thistle. These are green and fleshy to begin with, and persist on old stems. Several chambers are inside. Adults fly in June, laying eggs on the thistle. The larvae hatch and crawl down into the stem, causing the gall. They feed to late summer, then overwinter in the gall. They pupate inside the gall, and emerge in early summer. Grasslands etc. where Creeping Thistle is present.
Wikipedia reference for Urophora cardui: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urophora_cardui.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Tephritoidea
- Family
- Tephritidae (Fruit Flies)
- Subfamily
- Tephritinae
- Tribe
- Myopitini
- Genus
- Urophora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Grasslands etc. where Creeping Thistle is present.
Seasonal Activity
It flies from May to August/September.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread in the south of England.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Urophora cardui. 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 Thistle Gall Fly (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Thistle Gall Fly
What is Thistle Gall Fly?
Thistle Gall Fly (Urophora cardui) is a species in the family Tephritidae, within the order Diptera.
Where is Thistle Gall Fly found?
Habitat: Grasslands etc. where Creeping Thistle is present.
When is Thistle Gall Fly active?
Thistle Gall Fly: seasonal activity - It flies from May to August/September..