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Hello,

is this fly on a Cirsium arvense plant Trupanea stellata?

Michael

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No, it's not a Trupanea. It's Tephritis cometa, which sure does look an awfull lot like a Trupanea! The easiest way to tell this one from a Trupanea is the apical fork in the wing, which lacks in teh European Trupanea species.

John

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Hello John,

now you say it I see the fork here and the missing fork in Trupanea. I would have never remarked it. Thank you for your answer.

Michael

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Very curious name for fly. I'm talking about specific epithet of this species. The word "cometa" is comet for Portuguese. Does make sense if we say that this fly acts very quick and dives very steep in direction to the ground or tree?