The Chironomidae comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae. Many species superficially resemble mosquitoes, but they lack the wing scales and elongated mouthparts of the Culicidae.
Litocladius is a genus of chironomid midges that belongs to the subfamily Orthocladiinae and is composed of three species, Litocladius confusus Mendes et Andersen (2008), Litocladius mateusi Mendes, Andersen & Sæther (2004), and Litocladius floripa Mendes et Andersen (2008) all described from Brazil only. Male, female, and pupa of the type species are described, the remaining two species are known only from the male adults. This species are known from the Atlantic Forest, along the Brazilian coastline.
Ichthyocladius is a genus of chironomid midges that belongs to the subfamily Orthocladiinae described by Fittkau based on one species, Ichthyocladius neotropicus, from Peru, though some other species were recognised, the lack of knowledge did not allow their description. Two additional species from Brazil were described by Mendes, Andersen & Sæther.
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.
Gynocladius is a parthenogenetic genus in the subfamily Orthocladiinae (Chironomidae). A single species is recorded from Southeast Brazil, Gynocladius scalpellosus, described by Mendes, Sæther and Andrade-Morraye in 2005. The name stands for the presence of only females.
The genus Mesosmittia is cosmopolitan, thus occurring in all biogeographical regions except for Antarctica. Almost nothing or very little is known about its ecology, the larva of one species was described by Strenze (1950) as terrestrial, but adults can be collected using emergence traps set over rivulets.
Qiniella is a genus of non-biting midges in the diptera subfamily Orthocladiinae of the family Chironomidae.
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 was subsequently renamed and elevated to generic status . The Connecticut River in the eastern United States harbors locally dense populations of two Axarus species, both currently undescribed. These populations are interesting in that they are restricted to specific larval habitat and thus there is genetic structure between populations in the river . The Connecticut River species are also notable in that they have extremely well developed polytene chromosomes and also maintain a high degree of inversion polymorphism .
Apometriocnemus is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae.
Lyrocladius is a genus of chironomid midges that belongs to the subfamily Orthocladiinae and is composed of a single species, Lyrocladius radulatus Mendes et Andersen (2008), described from Brazil. The genus is known from male adult stage only. This species is known from the States of Paraná and Rio de Janeiro along the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
Euryhapsis is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Orthocladiinae of the bloodworm family (Chironomidae).
Gymnometriocnemus is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Orthocladiinae of the bloodworm family (Chironomidae). The genus is divided into two subgenera, Raphidocladius Sæther 1983 and Gymnometriocnemus Goetghebuer, 1932. Males of the former subgenus are characterized by possessing an extremely long virga with needle-like sclerotization, species of the later characterized by a short virga and a weakly developed crista dorsalis in the adult male hypopygium.
Metriocnemus is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Orthocladiinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae.
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 invertebrates in eutrophic ponds, reaching densities of up to 1200 larvae per square meter.
Cladopelma is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae and tribe Chironomini of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. Species are distributed world-wide, with species represented in the Palaearctic, Nearctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical, Sino-Indian, and Austroasian regions.
Zavrelia is a genus of European non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae.
Beardius is a genus of Pan-American non-biting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae. It is named after the late Melvin Beard, a student at Eastern New Mexico University.
Buchonomyia is the only extant genus of the subfamily Buchonomyiinae of the non-biting midge family Chironomidae. There are three known extant species and one fossil species in the genus: Members of the genus are parasitic of psychomyiid caddisflies.
Aagaardia is a genus of fly in the Chironomidae family. Aagaardia has been found in Finland, the mainland of Norway and Russia.
Lerheimia is a genus of chironomid midges containing four described species found in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
