The Oscinidae (Diptera) as Vectors of Conjunctivitis, and the Anatomy of their Mouth Parts

Abstract

Some species of very small flies belonging to the family Oscinidae have been accused of transmitting conjunctivitis and other diseases in different parts of the world.In the first part of this paper some of the evidence apparently incriminating these flies is quoted, and in the second part an account is given of the anatomy of the mouth parts, which appear to be so modified that the flies are likely to cause minute punctures when they feed on the delicate conjunctival epithelium or on recent wounds.