The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

Hi,

Earlier this week I swept a few mating pairs of Tephritis divisa in the vicinity of the old gas works site near Beckton and also near Stanford-le-Hope, both in South Essex.  I don't think it will be new to this district but nevertheless it seemed worth a note, in case anyone wants to see it in the field.  The main host plant appears to be Bristly Ox-tongue (not sure about Hawkweed Ox-tongue though).

Today I found T. divisa in a disused chalk quarry near Ebbsfleet International station, West Kent.  The site is private and permanently locked, but any suitable patches ruderal land nearby should support the species.  I'm not sure of its status in Kent but I expect by now it is breeding in a number of locations.

Peter Hodge