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Families Geomyzidae, Agromyzidae and Borboridae

The family Geomyzidae is a small one, and is composed of very small flies about which there is nothing especially distinctive or especially interesting. They are usually rather slender and of a grayish or yellow color, looking something like the pomace flies. Those of which the metamorphoses are known have larvae which mine the leaves of grasses and grains.

The Agromyzid flies, as a rule, are small, insignificant creatures of dull colors. The larvae of some of them feed on living plants, forming burrows or mines in various parts, and especially in the leaves, while the larvae of others (of the genus Leucopis) prey upon plant-lice and scale insects. None of the species, however, appear to have any great economic importance.

The Borboridae are little flies, usually of dark color, and with clear wings. They are often to be found in great numbers upon dung, and, in fact, appear to breed exclusively in this substance. One of the species of the genus Limosina (L. venalicius) was found abundantly in Cuba by Osten Sacken, and as it is an African species it is very probable that it was brought over in slave ships. The flies of this family have some value on account of their function as scavengers, but they may be responsible for the spread of disease among human beings.