Description

Body length 4mm. The frons is orange and the eyes are green. The thorax and abdomen are grey with black markings. The wings have two broken bars and a dark patch at the tip.

Habitat

Grasslands and field edges where creeping thistles are growing. The larva forms a gall in the seed head.

Status and distribution

Fairly common and well distributed in the southern half of Britain. Fairly common in Nottinghamshire and recorded once at Netherfield Lagoons.

Best time to see

May to July.