About Urophora stylata (Fabricius, 1775)
Urophora stylata (Fabricius, 1775) is a species of tephritid fruit fly belonging to the genus Urophora in the family Tephritidae. The usual host plants for its larvae are thistles from the genera Cirsium or Carduus. This species has been intentionally introduced to North America to act as a biological control agent for Cirsium vulgare, which is an invasive species there. Its native distribution ranges across Europe, extending east to Japan. It has also been introduced to India, Pakistan, Australia, and North America.
