Acanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi, 1794)

Evstigneev, D. A. & Glukhova, N. V., 2022, Tephritid flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of the Caucasus and Transcaucasia: new records and new host plants, Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 31 (1), pp. 118-129 : 120

Acanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi, 1794)

( Fig. 15)

Material examined. Russia: Kabardino–Balkarian Republic, Elbrus Distr. , nr. Terskol Vill., meadow on mountainside, 2 females and 1 male reared 28.VIII.2014 from capitula of Psephellus sp. collected on 20–24.VIII.2014 (coll. D.A. Evstigneev); Republic of Adygea, Maykop Distr., Lagonaki Plateau, mountain meadow, 1 male reared 14.VIII.2014 from capitula of Centaurea polyphylla collected on 5.VIII.2014 (coll. D.A. Evstigneev); Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, Western Digoria, Tana glade bog, 1 km W of Kubus Mt., 42.89350°N 43.57733°E, 2077 m, 12.IX.2018, 2 females and 2 males, sweep-netting (coll. A.A. Przhiboro). Georgia, Tbilisi, 2 males reared 31.VII.2019 from capitula of Amberboa glauca collected on 29.VII.2019 (coll. D.A. Evstigneev).

Distribution. Eurasia and North Africa to Ethiopia ( Morgulis et al., 2015).

Comments. The above specimens were reared from the capitula of several plant species. Centaurea polyphylla Ledeb. ex Nordm. [syn. Grosshei mia polyphylla (Ledeb.) Holub, G. ossica (C. Koch) Sosn. et Takht.] and Amberboa glauca (Willd.) Grossh. are recorded for the first time as host plants of A. helianthi . The habitus of A. helianthi is illustrated in Fig. 15. The morphological details of specimens from the Caucasus and Transcaucasia agree with those of specimens from European Russia ( Evstigneev, 2016).