Bugland: Looking For The Sun

The Strauzia longipennis is a large species in the fruit fly family, and is generally known by the common name Sunflower Maggot. These guys hang out on sunflowers during the summer months, and are considered a minor pest in North America. Their larvae burrow into the stems of the sunflowers, feeding on the spongy tissue. The flies don’t damage the flower heads or seeds, though — hence the designation as a minor pest. This Sunflower Maggot was photographed in Park Hill by Mark Silverstein.