The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of

nematocera The Nematocera (the name means "thread-horns") are a suborder of elongated flies with thin, segmented antennae and mostly aquatic larvae. This group is paraphyletic and contains all flies but species from suborder Brachycera (the name means "sh ...

flies Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced ...

with a global distribution. They are closely related to the

Ceratopogonidae Ceratopogonidae is a family of flies commonly known as no-see-ums, or biting midges, generally in length. The family includes more than 5,000 species, distributed worldwide, apart from the Antarctic and the Arctic. Ceratopogonidae are holomet ...

, Simuliidae, and

Thaumaleidae Thaumaleidae, the solitary midges or trickle midges, are a group of nematoceran flies related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and the Simuliidae. They are small, stocky, yellow to brown flies (3–4 mm). Very few species are known fo ...

. Many species superficially resemble

mosquitoes Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small Diptera, flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning "gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish ...

, but they lack the wing scales and elongated mouthparts of the

Culicidae Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning "gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish for "litt ...

. The name Chironomidae stems from the Ancient Greek word ''kheironómos'', "a pantomimist".

Common names and biodiversity

This is a large

taxon In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular nam ...

of insects; some estimates of the species numbers suggest well over 10,000 world-wide. Males are easily recognized by their plumose antennae. Adults are known by a variety of vague and inconsistent common names, largely by confusion with other insects. For example, chironomids are known as "lake flies" in parts of

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

and

Lake Winnebago Lake Winnebago ( mez, Wenepekōw Nepēhsæh, oj, Wiinibiigoo-zaaga'igan, one, kanyataláheleˀ) is a shallow freshwater lake in the north central United States, located in east central Wisconsin. At 137,700 acres it is the largest lake entir ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

, but "bay flies" in the areas near the bay of Green Bay,

. They are called "sand flies", "muckleheads", "muffleheads", "Canadian soldiers", or "American soldiers" in various regions of the

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lakes ...

area. They have been called "blind mosquitoes" or "chizzywinks" in

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

. However, they are not mosquitoes of any sort, and the term "

sandflies Sandfly (or sand fly) is a colloquial name for any species or genus of flying, biting, blood-sucking dipteran (fly) encountered in sandy areas. In the United States, ''sandfly'' may refer to certain horse flies that are also known as "greenhe ...

" generally refers to various species of biting flies unrelated to the Chironomidae. The group includes the wingless ''

Belgica antarctica ''Belgica antarctica'', the Antarctic midge, is a species of flightless midge, endemic to the continent of Antarctica. At long, it is the largest purely terrestrial animal native to the continent. It also has the smallest known insect genome as ...

'', the largest terrestrial animal of

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest contine ...

. The biodiversity of the Chironomidae often goes unnoticed because they are notoriously difficult to identify and ecologists usually record them by species groups. Each morphologically distinct group comprises a number of morphologically identical (sibling) species that can only be identified by rearing adult males or by cytogenetic analysis of the

polytene chromosome Polytene chromosomes are large chromosomes which have thousands of DNA strands. They provide a high level of function in certain tissues such as salivary glands of insects. Polytene chromosomes were first reported by E.G.Balbiani in 1881. P ...

s. Polytene chromosomes were originally observed in the larval salivary glands of ''

Chironomus ''Chironomus'' is a genus of nonbiting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family, Chironomidae, containing several cryptic species that can only be distinguished by experts based on the characteristics of their giant chromosome ...

'' midges by Balbiani in 1881. They form through repeated rounds of DNA replication without cell division, resulting in characteristic light and dark banding patterns which can be used to identify inversions and deletions which allow species identification.

Behavior and description

Larval stages of the Chironomidae can be found in almost any aquatic or semiaquatic habitat, including treeholes,

bromeliads The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a family of monocot flowering plants of about 80 genera and 3700 known species, native mainly to the tropical Americas, with several species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, ...

, rotting vegetation, soil, and in sewage and artificial containers. They form an important fraction of the macro

zoobenthos Benthos (), also known as benthon, is the community of organisms that live on, in, or near the bottom of a sea, river, lake, or stream, also known as the benthic zone.Larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

e of some species are bright red in color due to a

hemoglobin Hemoglobin (haemoglobin BrE) (from the Greek word αἷμα, ''haîma'' 'blood' + Latin ''globus'' 'ball, sphere' + ''-in'') (), abbreviated Hb or Hgb, is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein present in red blood cells (erythrocyte ...

analog; these are often known as "bloodworms". Their ability to capture oxygen is further increased by their making undulating movements. Many reference sources in the past century or so have repeated the assertion that the Chironomidae do not feed as adults, but an increasing body of evidence contradicts this view. Adults of many species do, in fact, feed. The natural foods reported include fresh fly droppings, nectar, pollen, honeydew, and various sugar-rich materials. The question whether feeding is of practical importance has by now been clearly settled for some ''Chironomus'' species, at least; specimens that had fed on sucrose flew far longer than starved specimens, and starved females longer than starved males, which suggested they had eclosed with larger reserves of energy than the males. Some authors suggest the females and males apply the resources obtained in feeding differently. Males expend the extra energy on flight, while females use their food resources to achieve longer lifespans. The respective strategies should be compatible with maximal probability of successful mating and reproduction in those species that do not mate immediately after eclosion, and in particular in species that have more than one egg mass maturing, the less developed masses being oviposited after a delay. Such variables also would be relevant to species that exploit wind for dispersal, laying eggs at intervals. Chironomids that feed on nectar or pollen may well be of importance as pollinators, but current evidence on such points is largely anecdotal. However, the content of protein and other nutrients in pollen, in comparison to nectar, might well contribute to the females' reproductive capacities. Adults can be pests when they emerge in large numbers. They may cause difficulty during driving if they collide with the windshield, creating an opaque coating which obscures the driver's vision. They can damage paint, brick, and other surfaces with their droppings. When large numbers of adults die, they can build up into malodorous piles. They can provoke allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Ecology

Chironomidae had variable feeding ecology, most species feed on algae and other small soil organisms they can filtrate. Larvae and pupae are important food items for

fish Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of li ...

, such as

trout Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera '' Oncorhynchus'', ''Salmo'' and ''Salvelinus'', all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word ''trout'' is also used as part of the name of some non-salmoni ...

banded killifish The banded killifish (''Fundulus diaphanus'') is a North American species of temperate freshwater killifish belonging to the genus ''Fundulus'' of the family Fundulidae. Its natural geographic range extends from Newfoundland to South Carolina, ...

, and sticklebacks, and for many other aquatic organisms as well such as

newts A newt is a salamander in the subfamily Pleurodelinae. The terrestrial juvenile phase is called an eft. Unlike other members of the family Salamandridae, newts are semiaquatic, alternating between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Not all aqua ...

. Many aquatic insects, such as various predatory

hemiptera Hemiptera (; ) is an order (biology), order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, Reduviidae, assassin bugs, Cimex, bed bugs, and shield bugs. ...

ns in the families

Nepidae Nepidae is a family of exclusively aquatic Heteropteran insects in the order Hemiptera. They are commonly called water scorpions for their superficial resemblance to scorpions, due to their raptorial forelegs and the presence of a long slender p ...

Notonectidae Notonectidae is a cosmopolitan family of aquatic insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly called backswimmers because they swim "upside down" (inverted). They are all predators and typically range from in length. They are similar in appearance t ...

, and Corixidae eat Chironomidae in their aquatic phases. So do predatory

water beetles A water beetle is a generalized name for any beetle that is adapted to living in water at any point in its life cycle. Most water beetles can only live in fresh water, with a few marine species that live in the intertidal zone or littoral zone. ...

in families such as the

Dytiscidae The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtually any freshwater habitat around the world, but a few species live a ...

and

Hydrophilidae Hydrophilidae, also known colloquially as water scavenger beetles, is a family of beetles. Aquatic hydrophilids are notable for their long maxillary palps, which are longer than their antennae. Several of the former subfamilies of Hydrophilidae ...

. The flying midges are eaten by fish and insectivorous birds, such as

swallow The swallows, martins, and saw-wings, or Hirundinidae, are a family of passerine songbirds found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica. Highly adapted to aerial feeding, they have a distinctive appearance. The ...

s and martins. They are also thought to be an especially important food source for tufted duck chicks during their first few days of life. They also are preyed on by bats and flying predatory insects, such as

Odonata Odonata is an order of flying insects that includes the dragonflies and damselflies. Members of the group first appeared during the Triassic, though members of their total group, Odonatoptera, first appeared in Late Carboniferous. The two com ...

and dance flies. The Chironomidae are important as indicator organisms, i.e., the presence, absence, or quantities of various species in a body of water can indicate whether

pollutants A pollutant or novel entity is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. These can be both naturally forming (i.e. minerals or extracted compounds like o ...

are present. Also, their fossils are widely used by palaeolimnologists as indicators of past environmental changes, including past climatic variability. Contemporary specimens are used by forensic entomologists as medico-legal markers for the postmortem interval assessment. A number of chironomid species inhabit marine habitats. Midges of the genus '' Clunio'' are found in the

intertidal zone The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore, is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range). This area can include several types of habitats with various species o ...

, where they have adjusted their entire life cycle to the rhythm of the tides. This made the species '' Clunio marinus'' an important model species for research in the field of

chronobiology Chronobiology is a field of biology that examines timing processes, including periodic (cyclic) phenomena in living organisms, such as their adaptation to solar- and lunar-related rhythms. These cycles are known as biological rhythms. Chronobi ...

Many species are terrestrial living in soil being dominant part of soil fauna community in many wet soil habitats but also in agricultural land and early stages of succession. Chironomidae display various strategies to use various temporary habitats.

Anhydrobiosis and stress resistance

Anhydrobiosis is the ability of an organism to survive in the dry state. Anhydrobiotic larvae of the African chironomid ''Polypedilum vanderplanki'' can withstand prolonged complete desiccation (reviewed by Cornette and Kikawada). These larvae can also withstand other external stresses including ionizing radiation. The effects of anhydrobiosis, gamma ray and heavy-ion irradiation on the nuclear DNA and gene expression of these larvae were studied by Gusev et al. They found that larval DNA becomes severely fragmented both upon anhydrobiosis and irradiation, and that these breaks are later repaired during rehydration or upon recovery from irradiation. An analysis of gene expression and antioxidant activity suggested the importance of removal of reactive oxygen species as well as the removal of DNA damages by repair enzymes. Expression of genes encoding DNA repair enzymes increased upon entering anhydrobiosis or upon exposure to radiation, and these increases indicated that when DNA damages occurred, they were subsequently repaired. In particular, expression of the ''Rad51'' gene was substantially up-regulated following irradiation and during rehydration. The Rad51 protein plays a key role in homologous recombination, a process required for the accurate repair of DNA double-strand breaks.

Subfamilies and genera

The family is divided into 11 subfamilies: Aphroteniinae, Buchonomyiinae, Chilenomyinae,

Chironominae Chironominae is a subfamily of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae). Genera *Tribe Chironomini **''Axarus'' Roback 1980 **'' Baeotendipes'' Kieffer, 1913 **'' Beckidia'' Sæther 1979 **'' Carbochironomus'' Reiss & Kirschbaum ...

Diamesinae Diamesinae is a subfamily of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae). Tribes and genera *Tribe Boreoheptagyiini Brundin, 1966 **Genus '' Boreoheptagyia'' Brundin, 1966 **Genus '' Kaluginia'' ''Fossil'' *Tribe Diamesini Pagast, ...

Orthocladiinae Orthocladiinae is a subfamily of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae). For lack of a better common name, they are simply referred to as orthoclads. Genera *'' Aagaardia'' Sæther, 1985 *'' Abiskomyia'' Edwards, 1937 *'' Ac ...

, Podonominae,

Prodiamesinae Prodiamesinae is a subfamily of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae). Extant genera & species *Genus '' Compteromesa'' Saether, 1981 :*'' C. oconeensis'' Saether, 1981 *Genus '' Monodiamesa'' Kieffer, 1922 :*'' M. bathyphila'' ...

Tanypodinae Tanypodinae is a subfamily of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae). The larvae are generally carnivorous and their mouthparts are adapted for predation on small invertebrates (including other chironomid larvae) although 1st and 2n ...

, Telmatogetoninae, and Usambaromyiinae. Most species belong to Chironominae, Orthocladiinae, and Tanypodinae. Diamesinae, Podonominae, Prodiamesinae, and Telmatogetoninae are medium-sized subfamilies with tens to hundreds of species. The remaining four subfamilies have fewer than five species each. Chironomidae sp

*'' Aagaardia'' Sæther, 2000 *'' Abiskomyia''

Edwards Edwards may refer to: People * Edwards (surname) * Edwards family, a prominent family from Chile * Edwards Barham (1937-2014), a former member of the Louisiana State Senate * Edwards Pierrepont (1817–1892), an American attorney, jurist, and ora ...

, 1937 *'' Ablabesmyia'' Johannsen, 1905 *'' Acalcarella'' *'' Acamptocladius'' Brundin, 1956 *'' Acricotopus''

Kieffer Kieffer is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Aldine Silliman Kieffer (1840–1904), American music writer * Charles Kieffer (1910–75), American athlete * Eduardo Gudiño Kieffer (1935–2002), Argentine writer * Guy-And ...

, 1921 *'' Aedokritus'' * '' Aenne'' *'' Afrochlus'' *'' Afrozavrelia'' Harrison, 2004 * '' Allocladius'' * '' Allometriocnemus'' * '' Allotrissocladius'' *'' Alotanypus'' Roback, 1971 * '' Amblycladius'' * '' Amnihayesomyia'' * '' Amphismittia'' * '' Anaphrotenia'' *'' Anatopynia'' Johannsen, 1905 *'' Ancylocladius'' *'' Andamanus'' *'' Antillocladius'' Sæther, 1981 *'' Anuncotendipes'' *''

Apedilum ''Apedilum'' is a genus of non-biting midges of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are ...

'' Townes, 1945 *'' Aphrotenia'' *'' Aphroteniella'' *'' Apometriocnemus'' Sæther, 1984 *'' Apsectrotanypus'' Fittkau, 1962 *'' Archaeochlus'' *''

Arctodiamesa ''Arctodiamesa'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies wit ...

'' Makarchenko, 1983 *'' Arctopelopia'' Fittkau, 1962 *'' Arctosmittia'' *'' Asachironomus'' *'' Asclerina'' *''

Asheum ''Asheum'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. It was originally named ''Pedionomus'' by James E. Sublette in 1964; this name was discovered by Patrick Ashe to be preoccupie ...

'' Sublette & Sublette, 1983 *'' Australopelopia'' *'' Austrobrillia'' *'' Austrochlus'' *'' Austrocladius'' *''

Axarus The genus ''Axarus'' is widely distributed with records from the Holarctic, the Neotropics and Australasia . There are currently 5 described nearctic species . Erected as a subgenus (''Anceus'') of ''Xenochironomus'' , ''Axarus'' w ...

'' Roback 1980 *'' Baeoctenus'' *'' Baeotendipes''

, 1913 *'' Bavarismittia'' *'' Beardius'' Reiss & Sublette, 1985 *'' Beckidia'' Sæther 1979 *'' Belgica'' *'' Bernhardia'' *'' Bethbilbeckia'' *'' Biwatendipes'' *'' Boreochlus'' Edwards, 1938 *''

Boreoheptagyia ''Boreoheptagyia'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species *'' B. alpicola'' Serra-Tosio, 1989 *'' B. alulasetosa'' Makarchenko Wu & Wang, 2008 *'' B. ambigua'' Makarchenko Wu & ...

'' Brundin 1966 *'' Boreosmittia'' *'' Botryocladius'' *''

Brillia ''Brillia'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Orthocladiinae of the family (Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a global ...

, 1913 *'' Brundiniella'' *'' Brunieria'' *'' Bryophaenocladius'' Thienemann, 1934 *'' Buchonomyia'' Fittkau, 1955 *'' Caladomyia'' *'' Camposimyia'' *'' Camptocladius'' van der Wulp, 1874 *'' Cantopelopia'' *'' Carbochironomus'' Reiss & Kirschbaum 1990 *'' Cardiocladius''

, 1912 *'' Chaetocladius''

, 1911 *'' Chasmatonotus'' *''

Chernovskiia ''Chernovskiia'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran ...

'' Sæther 1977 *'' Chilenomyia'' *'' Chirocladius'' *''

Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae. Many specie ...

'' *

Chironomini Chironomini is a tribe of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae). Genera & species *Genus '' Apedilum'' Townes, 1945 **'' A. elachistus'' Townes, 1945 **'' A. subcinctum'' Townes, 1945 *Genus ''Axarus'' Roback 1980 **'' A. dorne ...

*''

'' Meigen, 1803 *'' Chrysopelopia'' *''

Cladopelma ''Cladopelma'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae and tribe Chironomini of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family ...

, 1921 *'' Cladotanytarsus''

, 1921 *'' Clinotanypus''

, 1913 *'' Clunio'' Haliday, 1855 *'' Coelopynia'' *'' Coelotanypus'' *'' Coffmania'' *'' Collartomyia'' *'' Colosmittia'' *'' Compteromesa'' Sæther 1981 *'' Compterosmittia'' *'' Conchapelopia'' Fittkau, 1957 *'' Conochironomus'' *'' Constempellina'' Brundin, 1947 *'' Corynocera''

Zetterstedt Johan Wilhelm Zetterstedt (20 May 1785 – 23 December 1874) was a Sweden, Swedish Naturalism (philosophy) , naturalist who worked mainly on Diptera and Hymenoptera. Biography Zetterstedt studied at the Lund University, University of Lund, where ...

, 1838 *'' Corynoneura'' Winnertz, 1846 *'' Corynoneurella'' Brundin, 1949 *'' Corytibacladius'' *'' Cricotopus'' van der Wulp, 1874 *''

Cryptochironomus ''Cryptochironomus'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species *'' C. albofasciatus'' (Stæger, 1839) *'' C. argus'' Roback, 1957 *'' C. blarina'' (Townes, 1945) *'' C. c ...

, 1918 *''

Cryptotendipes ''Cryptotendipes'' is a genus of holarctic non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species *'' C. ariel'' (Sublette, 1960) *'' C. casuarius'' (Townes, 1945) *'' C. darbyi'' (Sublette, 1960) *'' C. em ...

'' Lenz, 1941 *'' Cyphomella'' Sæther 1977 *'' Dactylocladius'' *'' Daitoyusurika'' *''

Demeijerea ''Demeijerea'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species *'' D. abruptus'' (Townes, 1945) *'' D. brachialis'' (Coquillett, 1907) *'' D. obreptus'' (Townes, 1945) *'' D. r ...

'' Kruseman, 1933 *''

Demicryptochironomus ''Demicryptochironomus'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nem ...

'' Lenz, 1941 *'' Denopelopia'' *'' Derotanypus'' *''

Diamesa ''Diamesa'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species The genus includes the following species: * '' D. aberrata'' Lundbeck, 1898 * '' D. alata'' Storå, 1945 * '' D. alpina'' T ...

'' Meigen in Gistl, 1835 *

*''

Dicrotendipes ''Dicrotendipes'' is a worldwide genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species *'' D. adnilus'' Epler, 1987 *'' D. aethiops'' (Townes, 1945) *'' D. botaurus'' (Townes, 1945) *'' D. cali ...

, 1913 *'' Diplocladius''

, 1908 *'' Diplosmittia'' *'' Djalmabatista'' Fittkau, 1968 *'' Doithrix'' *'' Doloplastus'' *'' Doncricotopus'' *'' Dratnalia'' *'' Echinocladius'' *'' Edwardsidia'' *''

Einfeldia ''Einfeldia'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species *'' E. austini'' Beck & Beck, 1970 *'' E. brunneipennis'' Johannsen, 1905 *'' E. chelonia'' (Townes, 1945) *'' E. ...

, 1924 *''

Endochironomus ''Endochironomus'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies ...

, 1918 *'' Endotribelos'' *'' Epoicocladius'' Sulc & ZavÍel, 1924 *'' Eretmoptera'' *'' Eukiefferiella'' Thienemann, 1926 *'' Eurycnemus'' van der Wulp, 1874 *'' Euryhapsis'' Oliver, 1981 *'' Eusmittia'' *'' Fissimentum'' *'' Fittkauimyia'' *'' Fleuria'' *'' Freemaniella'' *'' Friederia'' *'' Georthocladius'' Strenzke, 1941 *'' Gillotia''

, 1921 *'' Glushkovella'' *''

Glyptotendipes ''Glyptotendipes'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species *'' G. aequalis'' ( Kieffer, 1922) *'' G. amplus'' Townes, 1945 *'' G. barbipes'' (Stæger, 1839) *'' G. caulicola'' ( ...

, 1913 *'' Goeldichironomus'' *''

Graceus ''Graceus'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran fli ...

'' Goetghebuer, 1928 *'' Gravatamberus'' *'' Gressittius'' *'' Guassutanypus'' *'' Guttipelopia'' Fittkau, 1962 *'' Gymnometriocnemus'' Goetghebeur, 1932 *'' Gynnidocladius'' *'' Gynocladius'' Mendes, Sæther & Andrade-Morraye, 2005 *'' Hahayusurika'' *'' Halirytus'' *'' Halocladius'' Hirvenoja, 1973 *'' Hanochironomus'' *'' Hanocladius'' *'' Harnischia''

, 1921 *'' Harrisius'' *'' Harrisonina'' *'' Hayesomyia'' Murray & Fittkau, 1985 *'' Heleniella'' Gouin, 1943 *'' Helopelopia'' Roback, 1971 *''

Henrardia ''Henrardia'' is a genus of Asian plants in the grass family. ; Species * '' Henrardia persica'' (Boiss.) C.E.Hubb. - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon * '' Henrar ...

'' *'' Heptagyia'' *'' Heterotanytarsus'' Spärck, 1923 *'' Heterotrissocladius'' Spärck, 1923 *''

Hevelius Johannes Hevelius Some sources refer to Hevelius as Polish: * * * * * * * Some sources refer to Hevelius as German: * * * * *of the Royal Society * (in German also known as ''Hevel''; pl, Jan Heweliusz; – 28 January 1687) was a councillor ...

'' *'' Himatendipes'' *'' Hirosimayusurika'' *'' Hudsonimyia'' Roback, 1979 *'' Hydrobaenus'' *'' Hydrosmittia'' *'' Hyporhygma'' *'' Ichthyocladius'' Fittkau, 1974 *'' Ikiprimus'' *'' Ikisecundus'' *'' Imparipecten'' *'' Indoaxarus'' *'' Indocladius'' *'' Ionthosmittia'' *'' Irisobrillia'' *'' Kaluginia'' *'' Kamelopelopia'' *'' Kaniwhaniwhanus'' *'' Kiefferophyes'' *'' Kiefferulus'' Goetghebuer, 1922 *'' Knepperia'' *''

Kloosia ''Kloosia'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species *'' K. pusilla'' (Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblem ...

'' Kruseman 1933 *'' Krenopelopia'' Fittkau, 1962 *'' Krenopsectra'' *'' Krenosmittia'' Thienemann & Krüger, 1939 *'' Kribiobius'' *'' Kribiocosmus'' *'' Kribiodosis'' *'' Kribiopelma'' *'' Kribiothauma'' *'' Kribioxenus'' *'' Kurobebrillia'' *'' Kuschelius'' *'' Labrundinia'' Fittkau, 1962 *''

Lappodiamesa ''Lappodiamesa'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies wit ...

'' Serra-Tosio, 1968 *'' Lappokiefferiella'' *'' Lapposmittia'' *''

Larsia ''Larsia'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Tanypodinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species *''Larsia atrocincta, L. atrocincta'' (Goetghebuer, 1942) *''Larsia curticalcar, L. curticalcar'' (Jean-Jacques Kieffer, Kieff ...

'' Fittkau, 1962 *'' Lasiodiamesa''

, 1924 *'' Laurotanypus'' *''

Lauterborniella ''Lauterborniella'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species As accepted by EOL; *'' Lauterborniella agrayloides'' ( Kieffer, 1911) *'' Lauterborniella annulipes'' (Joh ...

'' Thienemann & Bause, 1913 *'' Lepidopelopia'' *'' Lepidopodus'' *'' Lerheimia'' *'' Limaya'' *'' Limnophyes'' Eaton, 1875 *'' Lindebergia'' *'' Linevitshia'' *'' Lipiniella'' Shilova 1961 *'' Lipurometriocnemus'' *'' Lithotanytarsus'' *'' Litocladius'' Andersen, Mendes & Sæther 2004 *'' Ljungneria'' *'' Lobodiamesa'' *'' Lobomyia'' *'' Lobosmittia'' *'' Lopescladius'' *'' Lunditendipes'' *'' Lyrocladius'' Mendes & Andersen, 2008 *'' Macropelopia'' Thienemann, 1916 * Macropelopini *''

Manoa Mānoa (, ) is a valley and a residential neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii. The neighborhood is approximately three miles (5 km) east and inland from downtown Honolulu and less than a mile (1600 m) from Ala Moana and Waikiki at . Neighbo ...

'' *'' Maoridiamesa'' *'' Mapucheptagyia'' *'' Maryella'' *'' Mecaorus'' *'' Megacentron'' *'' Mesocricotopus'' *'' Mesosmittia'' Brundin, 1956 *'' Metriocnemus'' van der Wulp, 1874 *'' Microchironomus''

, 1918 *'' Micropsectra''

, 1909 *'' Microtendipes''

, 1915 *'' Microzetia'' *''

Molleriella ''Molleriella'' is a genus of fungi in the family Elsinoaceae. The genus name of ''Molleriella'' is in honour of Adolfo Frederico Möller (1842-1920), who was a Portuguese botanist, who was a gardener and then Inspector of the Botanical Garden i ...

'' *'' Mongolchironomus'' *'' Mongolcladius'' *'' Mongolyusurika'' *'' Monodiamesa''

, 1922 *'' Monopelopia'' Fittkau, 1962 *'' Murraycladius'' *'' Nakataia'' *''

Nandeva Chiripá Guarani (Tsiripá, Txiripá), also known as Ava Guarani and ''Nhandéva'' (''Ñandeva''), is a Guaraní language spoken in Paraguay, Brazil, and also Argentina. Nhandéva is closely connected to Mbyá Guaraní, as intermarriage between s ...

'' *'' Nanocladius''

, 1913 *'' Naonella'' *'' Nasuticladius'' *'' Natarsia'' Fittkau, 1962 *'' Neelamia'' *'' Neobrillia'' *'' Neopodonomus'' *'' Neostempellina'' *'' Neozavrelia'' Goetghebuer, 1941 *'' Nesiocladius'' *'' Nilodorum'' *'' Nilodosis'' *'' Nilotanypus''

, 1923 *'' Nilothauma''

, 1921 *'' Nimbocera'' *'' Notocladius'' *''

Odontomesa Odontomesa is a genus of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are cl ...

'' Pagast, 1947 *'' Okayamayusurika'' *'' Okinawayusurika'' *'' Olecryptotendipes'' Zorina, 2007 *'' Oleia'' *'' Oliveridia'' Sæther, 1980 *'' Omisus'' Townes, 1945 *'' Onconeura'' *'' Ophryophorus'' *'' Oreadomyia'' *

*'' Orthocladius'' van der Wulp, 1874 *'' Oryctochlus'' *'' Oukuriella'' *''

Pagastia ''Pagastia'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a ...

'' Oliver, 1959 *'' Pagastiella'' Brundin, 1949 *'' Paraboreochlus'' Thienemann, 1939 *'' Parachaetocladius'' *'' Parachironomus'' Lenz, 1921 *''

Paracladius ''Paracladius'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Orthocladiinae of the bloodworm family (Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematocer ...

'' Hirvenoja, 1973 *'' Paracladopelma'' Harnisch, 1923 *'' Paracricotopus'' Thienemann & Harnisch, 1932 *'' Parakiefferiella'' Thienemann, 1936 *'' Paralauterborniella'' Lenz, 1941 *'' Paralimnophyes'' Brundin, 1956 *'' Paramerina'' Fittkau, 1962 *'' Parametriocnemus'' Goetghebuer, 1932 *'' Pamirocesa'' *'' Paraborniella'' * Parachironominae *'' Paradoxocladius'' *'' Paraheptagyia'' *'' Paranilothauma'' *'' Parapentaneura'' *'' Paraphaenocladius'' Thienemann, 1924 *'' Paraphrotenia'' *'' Parapsectra'' Reiss, 1969 *'' Parapsectrocladius'' *'' Parasmittia'' *'' Paratanytarsus'' Thienemann & Bause, 1913 *'' Paratendipes''

, 1911 *'' Paratrichocladius'' Thienemann, 1942 *'' Paratrissocladius'' ZavÍel, 1937 *'' Parochlus'' Enderlein, 1912 *'' Parorthocladius'' Thienemann, 1935 *'' Parvitergum'' *'' Paucispinigera'' *'' Pelomus'' *'' Pentaneura'' *'' Pentaneurella'' * Pentaneurini *'' Pentapedilum'' *'' Petalocladius'' *'' Phaenopsectra''

, 1921 *'' Physoneura'' *'' Pirara'' *'' Platysmittia'' Sæther, 1982 *'' Plhudsonia'' *'' Podochlus'' *'' Podonomopsis'' *'' Podonomus'' *''

Polypedilum ''Polypedilum'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. This is probably the most species-rich of all chironomid genera. Larvae of Polypedilum may also be among the most abundant inverte ...

, 1912 *''

Pontomyia ''Pontomyia'' is a genus of flightless marine midges belonging to the subfamily Chironominae in the Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with ...

'' *''

Potthastia ''Potthastia'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a ...

, 1922 *'' Prochironomus'' * Procladiini *'' Procladius'' Skuse, 1889 *''

Prodiamesa Prodiamesa is a genus of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are cl ...

, 1906 *'' Propsilocerus'' *'' Prosmittia'' *''

Protanypus ''Protanypus'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species The genus includes the following species: * '' P. caudatus'' Edwards Edwards may refer to: People * Edwards (surname) * ...

, 1906 *'' Psectrocladius''

, 1906 *'' Psectrotanypus''

, 1909 *'' Pseudobrillia'' *'' Pseudochironomus'' Malloch, 1915 *''

Pseudodiamesa ''Pseudodiamesa'' is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies wi ...

'' Goetghebuer, 1939 *'' Pseudohydrobaenus'' *'' Pseudokiefferiella'' Zavrel, 1941 *'' Pseudorthocladius'' Goetghebuer, 1932 *'' Pseudosmittia'' Goetghebuer, 1932 *'' Psilochironomus'' *'' Psilometriocnemus'' Sæther, 1969 *'' Pterosis'' *'' Qiniella'' *'' Reissmesa'' *'' Rheochlus'' *'' Rheocricotopus'' Brundin, 1956 *'' Rheomus'' *'' Rheomyia'' *'' Rheopelopia'' Fittkau, 1962 *'' Rheosmittia'' Brundin, 1956 *'' Rheotanytarsus'' Thienemann & Bause, 1913 *'' Rhinocladius'' *'' Riethia'' *''

Robackia ''Robackia'' is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species *''Robackia claviger, R. claviger'' (Townes, 1945) *''Robackia demeijerei, R. demeijerei'' (Kruseman, 1933) *''Ro ...

'' Sæther, 1977 *'' Saetheria'' Jackson, 1977 *'' Saetheriella'' Halvorsen, 1982 *'' Saetherocladius'' *'' Saetherocryptus'' *'' Saetheromyia'' *'' Saetherops'' *'' Sasayusurika'' *'' Schineriella'' Murray & Fittkau, 1988 *'' Semiocladius'' *'' Setukoyusurika'' *'' Seppia'' *'' Sergentia''

, 1922 *'' Shangomyia'' *'' Shilovia'' *'' Skusella'' *'' Skutzia'' *''Smittia'' Holmgren, 1869 *''Stackelbergina'' *''Stelechomyia'' *''Stempellina'' Thienemann & Bause, 1913 *''Stempellinella'' Brundin, 1947 *''Stenochironomus''

, 1919 *''Stictochironomus''

, 1919 *''Stictocladius'' *''Stictotendipes'' *''Stilocladius'' Rossaro, 1979 *''Sublettea'' *''Sublettiella'' *''Sumatendipes'' *''Symbiocladius''

, 1925 *''Sympotthastia'' Pagast, 1947 *''Syndiamesa''

, 1918 *''Synendotendipes'' Grodhaus, 1987 *''Synorthocladius'' Thienemann, 1935 *

*''Tanypus'' Meigen, 1803 *Tanytarsini *''Tanytarsus'' van der Wulp, 1874 *''Tavastia (fly), Tavastia'' *''Telmatogeton'' Schiner, 1866 *''Telmatopelopia'' Fittkau, 1962 *''Telopelopia'' *''Tempisquitoneura'' *''Tethymyia'' *''Thalassomya'' Schiner, 1856 *''Thalassosmittia'' Strenzke & Remmert, 1957 *''Thienemannia''

, 1909 *''Thienemanniella''

, 1911 *''Thienemannimyia'' Fittkau, 1957 *''Thienemanniola'' *''Tobachironomus'' *''Tokunagaia'' Sæther, 1973 *''Tokunagayusurika'' *''Tokyobrillia'' *''Tosayusurika'' *''Townsia'' *''Toyamayusurika'' *''Tribelos'' Townes, 1945 *''Trichochilus'' *''Trichosmittia'' *''Trichotanypus''

, 1906 *''Trissocladius''

, 1908 *''Trissopelopia''

, 1923 *''Trondia'' *''Tsudayusurika'' *''Tusimayusurika'' *''Tvetenia''

, 1922 *''Unniella'' Sæther, 1982 *''Usambaromyia'' Andersen & Sæther, 1994 *''Virgatanytarsus'' Pinder, 1982 *''Vivacricotopus'' *''Wirthiella'' *''Xenochironomus''

, 1921 *''Xenopelopia'' Fittkau, 1962 *''Xestochironomus'' *''Xestotendipes'' *''Xiaomyia'' *''Xylotopus'' * ''Yaeprimus'' * ''Yaequartus'' * ''Yaequintus'' * ''Yaesecundus'' * ''Yaetanytarsus'' * ''Yaetertius'' *''Yama (fly), Yama'' *''Zalutschia'' Lipina, 1939 *''Zavrelia''

, 1913 *''Zavreliella''

, 1920 *''Zavrelimyia'' Fittkau, 1962 * ''Zelandochlus'' * ''Zhouomyia'' * ''Zuluchironomus''

References

External links

The Chironomid Home Page

Chironomidae and Water Beetles of Florida

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060516165621/http://www.mapmate.co.uk/checklist/chironomidae.htm Checklist of UK Recorded Chironomidae]
Chironomidae at Nomina Insecta Nearctica

Chironomidae at Australian Faunal Directory
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Diptera.info
Images {{Authority control Chironomidae, Nematocera families Extant Triassic first appearances