(as Trupanea (Tephritoides) subpura)

The larvae feed in the tender growing stems of Baccharis glomeruliflora, tunneling out as much as an inch of stem and usually, but not always, forming slight swellings.

Palmer (1987) reported this fly to be common on B. halimifolia in southeastern Texas and southern Louisiana where it forms stem galls. Wasbauer (1972) lists B. halimifolia in reference to an unpublished host list of Foote. Various specimens examined here were reared from flowers and stems of B. halimifolia and others were recorded from only the stems of B. glomeruliflora.