Tephritis araileri Evstigneev, 2020

Tephritis araileri Evstigneev, 2020

( Figs 1–6)

Material examined. Armenia, Vayots Dzor Prov., nr. Martiros Vill., mountain steppe, 1 female reared on 31.VII.2022 from capitulum of Scorzonera rigida collected on 23.VII.2022; Aragatsotn Prov.: Mt. Ara (= Arailer), mountain side facing Egward Town , mountain meadow, 1 female reared on 1.VIII.2018 from capitulum of Scorzonera latifolia collected on 31.VII.2018; same locality and habitat, 6 females and 4 males reared on 17–21.VIII.2018 from capitula of S. latifolia collected on 24–31.VII.2018; Mt. Ara, nr. Tsaghkevank Monastery , mountain meadow, 11 fe- D.A. Evstigneev & N.S. Boyko. First records of two species of Tephritis males and 7 males reared on 26–31.VII.2019 from capitula of S. latifolia collected on 18.VII.2019.

Comments. Scorzonera rigida Auch. ex DC. is recorded for the first time as a host plant of T. araileri . Previously, S. latifolia (Fisch. et C.A. Mey.) DC. was recorded as a host plant of this species ( Evstigneev, 2020b). Both host plants grow together near the village of Martiros. Larvae develop in capitula of S. latifolia along with T. conaraileri (see below).

Tephritis araileri differs from T. conaraileri in minor details of the wing pattern (small spot in anal lobe in T. araileri and distinct spot in the shape of a ring or semi-ring in T. conaraileri ) and the shape of apex of the aculeus (apex of the aculeus with distinct steps in T. araileri and without steps in T. conaraileri ). Thus, two species display small differences in wing markings and strong differences in the shape of the female genitalia. The shape of the aculeus is a major distinguishing character between the two species.

Distribution. Armenia: Aragatsotn Province ( Evstigneev, 2020b) and Vayots Dzor Province (this paper).