The Nematocera 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, which includes more commonly known species such as the housefly or the common fruit fly. The equivalent clade to Nematocera is the whole Diptera, with Brachycera as a subclade. Families in Nematocera include mosquitoes, crane flies, gnats, black flies, and multiple families commonly known as midges. The Nematocera typically have fairly long, fine, finely-jointed antennae. In many species, such as most mosquitoes, the female antennae are more or less threadlike, but the males have spectacularly plumose antennae.
Ceratopogonidae is a family of flies commonly known as no-see-ums, or biting midges, generally 1–3 millimetres in length. The family includes more than 5,000 species, distributed worldwide, apart from the Antarctic and the Arctic.
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.
Apsectrotanypus is a genus of midges in the family Chironomidae. There are about six described species in Apsectrotanypus.
Halocladius is a genus of halophilic, non-biting midges in the subfamily Orthocladiinae of the bloodworm family (Chironomidae). They inhabit seashores and saline inland waters of the Northern Hemisphere. Wing length is 1.5–3.5 mm (0.06–0.14 in). Two subgenera have been described: Halocladius and Psammocladius.
Telmatogetoninae is a subfamily of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae).
Telmatogeton is a genus of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae).
Thalassomya is a genus of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae).
Diamesini is a tribe of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae).
Diamesa is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae.
Syndiamesa is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae.
Boreoheptagyia is a genus of non-biting midges in the subfamily Diamesinae of the bloodworm family Chironomidae.
The fly genus Deuterophlebia is the sole member of the small monogeneric family Deuterophlebiidae or mountain midges. Adults have broad, fan-shaped wings, and males have extremely long antennae which they employ when contesting territories over running water, waiting for females to hatch. Larvae occur in swiftly flowing streams and are easily recognized by their forked antennae and the prolegs on the abdomen.
Leptoconops is a midge genus in the family Ceratopogonidae. It has a mostly tropical or subtropical distribution worldwide, but some species occur as far north as Moscow region in Russia and the Yukon Territory in Canada.
Clunio marinus is a non-biting midge of the bloodworm family (Chironomidae). It is found in the intertidal zone of the European Atlantic Coast from Spain to Iceland. The species is a long-standing model system in chronobiology, particularly for circalunar clocks and the evolution of biological clocks. Its genome has been sequenced.
Pontomyia is a genus of flightless marine midges belonging to the subfamily Chironominae in the Chironomidae family. Insects in marine environments are extremely rare while flightlessness, extreme sexual dimorphism, and an extremely short adult life span contribute to making these midges unusual among insects. They are known from the shores of islands in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Mallochohelea is a genus of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. There are at least 40 described species in Mallochohelea.
Clinohelea is a genus of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. There are at least 40 described species in Clinohelea.
Chironomus annularius is a species of non-biting midge in the family Chironomidae. It is usually found in regions with bodies of fresh water but can be found in almost every environment. It tends to form "hotspots" around specific areas. The species is distinguished by the size of its chromosomes and the lack of a proboscis.
