The Grass Stem Flies 



especially noticeable in the summer time, particularly in the 

 Southern States. They are the most minute of flies, and swarm 

 about the eyes of dogs and domestic animals, and in some places 

 are annoying by getting into the eyes of human beings. These 

 are the forms which were considered by Hubbard to be 

 responsible for the spread of the eye disease known as " pink-eye " 

 in Florida, a complaint so prevalent at times, especially among 



Fig. 106. Gaurax anchora. (Author's Illustration.) 



school children, as to cause the schools to close. The species of 

 the true genus Oscinis almost invariably in their larval stage 

 bore into the stems of living plants, especially grasses, but one 

 species lives in the seed pods of the so-called Indian bean tree 

 (Catalpa speciosa). A member of this family is the famous "frit 

 fly " of Europe, and causes great damage to grain crops, especi- 

 ally in North Europe. 



184 



