Terellia serratulae (Linnaeus, 1758)

Knio, Khouzama M., Kalash, Sameer H. & White, Ian M., 2002, Flowerhead-infesting fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) on thistles (Asteraceae), in Lebanon, Journal of Natural History 36 (5), pp. 617-629 : 626

Terellia serratulae (Linnaeus, 1758)

Found at all altitudes. ex Carduus argentatus var. polycephalus : 2M and 2F, Beirut (Greater Beirut); 2M, Doha, Chouf Co. (Mount Lebanon); 7M and 3F, El Qalamoun, Tripoli Co. (North Lebanon). ex Cirsium acarna (L.) Moench: 2M, Taanayel, Zahleh Co. (Beqaa Valley). ex C. Iibanoticum DC.: 2M and 1F, Faraya, Kesrouan Co. (Mount Lebanon). ex C. amani Post : 1M and 1F, Knat, Akkar Co. (North Lebanon). ex C. phyllocephalum Boiss. et Bl. : 3M and 3F, Faqra, Kesrouan Co. (Mount Lebanon); 24M and 24F, Faraya, Kesrouan Co. (Mount Lebanon); 3M and 6F, El Medairej, Aley Co. (Mount Lebanon); 3M and 1F, Ainab, Aley Co. (Mount Lebanon); 5M and 7M, Terchich, Baabda Co.(Mount Lebanon); 3M and 5F, Dhour El Chweir, El Maten Co. (Mount Lebanon); 4M and 2F, Qartaba, Jbail Co. (Mount Lebanon); 1M and 1F, Dedde, Koura Co. (North Lebanon); 2M and 1F, Aajaltoun, Kesrouan Co. (Mount Lebanon); 1M and 2F, El Mdairej, Aley Co. (Mount Lebanon); 2M and 4F, Aley, Aley Co. (Mount Lebanon).

Terellia serratulae can be considered oligophagous, infesting two genera of the Carduae. It seems to be a multivoltine species as it was found from May to late October, and was common in the summer at high altitudes. This species has been reported to attack the heads of Carduus and Cirsium spp. ( White, 1988) . Its distribution in Asia comprises Israel, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Mongolia and China ( Foote, 1984).