Life history and descriptions of adults and immature stages of Tephritis teerinki, new species (Diptera : Tephritidae) on Hulsea vistita A. Gray (Asteraceae) in southern California

Tephritis teerinki Goeden, n. sp., is a fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) pr oducing a single, annual generation in the flower heads of Hulsea vestita A . Gray (Asteraceae) belonging to the subtribe Chaenactidinae of the tribe H elenieae in southern California. It also has been reared from mature flower heads of Hulsea californica Torrey and A. Gray. The ego, first-, second- a nd third-instar larvae, puparium, and adults are described and figured, and these stages are compared with those of other southern California Tephriti s. The adults are distinguished by a combination of characters involving wi ng pattern, wing length, and leg color. The egg is covered by a smooth, mem braneous sheath of unknown function. The description of the first instar of T. teerinki is the first for this instar in the genus Tephritis. Noteworth y for the first instar is the fusion of its integumental petal with the sto mal sense organ. Similarly, the description of the second instar is only th e second for the genus Tephritis. The third instar has the fewest number of integumental petals among third instars of three other described species a nd apparently has bidentate, not tridentate, mouthhooks like the other thre e congeners. The life cycle is of the aggregative type and overwintering oc curs as long-lived, sexually immature adults.