Sauron the Gene-maker

[Inziladun]

I've been fascinated for some time by the appearance of apparent WMD use in Middle-earth, and I've lately wondered about something along somewhat similar scientific lines.

In Mordor, among all the major horrors encountered by Frodo and Sam, are described some relatively obscure minions of Sauron.

Files, dun or grey, or black, marked like orcs with a red eye-shaped blotch, buzzed and stung...

ROTK The Land of Shadow

Since I can see no explanation for the eye-marks occurring naturally, I conclude Sauron somehow produced that particular species of fly. The question is, why? Vanity? Experimentation?