Acanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi, 1790)

Musca helianthi Rossi, 1794: 73 . Syntypes. Italy ( Etruria) (ZMHB).

Trypeta eluta Meigen, 1826: 344 . Syntypes. France ; Portugal; Germany (MNHNP).

Distribution. AF: Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan. OR: India, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand. PA: Afghanistan, Andorra, Canary Is., Central Asia, China (Xinjiang, Beijing), Egypt, Europe, Israel, Iran, Kazakhstan, Madeira Is., Mongolia, Russia, Tunisia.

Egyptian localities. Common throughout the country, particularly in: Coastal Strip: Alexandria, El-Burg, Mariout, Mersa Matrouh, Nuzha. Gebel Elba. Eastern Desert: Port Said, Suez Road, Suez Road, Wadi Abu Nossour, Wadi Digla, Wadi Garawi, Wadi Hoff, Wadi Rashid, Wadi Rishrash, Wadi Um Biar (Near Qussair), Wadi Um Elek. Lower Nile Valley and Delta: Abu Rawash, Birqash, Cairo, Ezbet El-Nakhl, Faraskour, Helwan, Kafr Hakim, Kerdassa. Sinai: Ain Gedeirat, Wadi Tih. Western Desert: Kharga Oasis, Siwa. Upper Nile Valley: Aswan, Komombo.

Host plants. Brown knapweed ( Centaurea jacea L.), cornflower ( Centaurea cyanus L.), Egyptian starthistle ( Centaurea aegyptiaca L.), jersey knapweed ( Centaurea paniculata L.), knapweed ( Centaurea pallescens Delile), illyrian thistle ( Onopordum illyricum L.), milk thistle [ Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.], safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius L.) aan stemless star-thistle ( Centaurea acaulis L.). Sources: Efflatoun (1924a); Kugler & Freidberg (1976); Freidberg & Kugler (1989).

Dates of collection. Throughout the year.