In 1923, under the name Oscinis pallipes, C. G. Lamb described a tiny black fly from Khartoum, Sudan. In the accompanying notes by Cottam (1923), this fly was said to swarm in immense numbers on ceilings and upper parts of rooms and verandahs in September to December. The swarms were said to be larger than those frequently recorded in Europe for “Chloropisca circumdata Meigen” which is now known as Thaumatomyia notata (Meigen). While it is not primarily an eye gnat, as are the Hippelates flies in the Americas, Cottam noted that the flies “are attracted to artificial light at night, and constitute a nuisance by swarming round lamps or on dinner tables and getting into people's eyes”.