Bug FAQMist Flower Gall Fly
Procecidochares alani · Order: Diptera · Family: Tephritidae
Also called: Fruit fly
The mist flower gall fly is originally from Mexico. Its larvae live inside an invasive plant, creating stem galls that slow the plant’s growth. It was released in Australia in 1987 for biological control, but native parasitoid wasps quickly reduced its impact.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed inside the stems of an invasive plant, causing galls that impede growth.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 1 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Hawaii.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plant does the mist flower gall fly affect?
Its larvae develop inside an invasive plant, forming stem galls that slow the plant’s growth.
Source: Wikipedia
Was this fly used for biological control?
Yes, it was released in Australia in 1987 to control the invasive plant, but native parasitoid wasps quickly reduced its effectiveness.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Tephritidae)
Goldenrod Gall FlyEurosta solidaginis
Thistle Stem Gall FlyUrophora cardui
Goldenrod Brussels Sprout Gall FlyProcecidochares atra
Mediterranean Fruit FlyCeratitis capitataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Cotton-gall TephritidAciurina bigeloviae
Oriental Fruit FlyBactrocera dorsalisDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procecidochares_alani
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-29 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-29.