It is used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious weed yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis).

[2] The adult fly is light golden yellow in color with small black spots on its body and stripes on its wings.

The male fly is about 4 millimeters long and the female is slightly longer due to her large ovipositor.

The female lays up to 240 cylindrical eggs beneath the bracts on the flower heads of yellow starthistle.

The first generation often utilizes the minor weed cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) before continuing reproduction on yellow starthistle.