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Is anyone able to confirm my provisional determination of this unfamiliar Tephritd? Specimens were swept off Picris echioides (Bristly Ox-tongue) growing in a former arable field near Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK during August 2005.

Using the key in White (1988) it runs down to Tephritis separata, a species provisionally recorded from the British Isles on the strength of a single specimen found more than 60 years ago at Barton Mills, Suffolk.

S?guy (1934) illustrates the wing patterns of many non-British Tephritis species. My specimens most closely resemble T. conjuncta (Pl.XV, Fig.180), now regarded as a synonym of T. separata (see photo posted below). Note that the basal hyaline area of the 2 large hyaline in cell r1 extends into cell r2+3, without being staggered at vein R2+3. One notable difference is that the tomentum of the scutum in all my specimens is entirely pale grey, and not striped as stated by White (1988).

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Dear Peter,

A very interresting Tephritid!
It sure looks lika Tephritis separata, but it is very difficult to separate from T. divisa and T. mutabilis. Tephritis separata is known with certainty from Picris hieracioides. So if you have the opportunity, please go and collect the flowerheads and try to rear them. If you want you can sent me a specimen for identification.

Best wishes,

John Smit

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The above turned out to be Tephritis divisa - new to Britain.

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No doubts -- it is.