Terellia arailerica sp. n. – a new species of tephritid flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Armenia

Abstract

The new species of tephritid flies Terellia arailerica sp. n. is described from Armenia (Arailer Mt.). A comparison of phalli of six similar species (T. virens (Loew, 1846), T. uncinata White, 1989, T. zerovae Korneyev, 1985, T. freidbergi V. Korneyev, 2013, T. ivannikovi V. Korneyev et Evstigneev, 2013 и T. odontolophi Korneyev, 1993) is given. These six species have (as well as the new one) entirely hyaline wings and they are associated with plants of the genera Centaurea Linnaeus, 1753 and Psephellus Cassini, 1826. The new species differs from mentioned above taxa in the extremely long tubular extension of glans of the phallus with filaments separating at the apex. The larvae of the new species feed on tissues of the capitula of Centaurea spectabilis (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Sch. Bip. and migrate into stem to pupate after feeding process. The migration from the capitulum into the stem depends on the rate of the capitulum drying process. When the capitulum is completely dry, larvae can be observed in the upper part of the stem. If the capitulum is not completely dry yet, larvae are located still inside it

Keywords

• new species
• host plants
• tephritidae
• terellia
• armenia