Chironomidae
| Chironomidae Temporal range:  | |
|---|---|
| Male Chironomus plumosus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota | 
| Kingdom: | Animalia | 
| Phylum: | Arthropoda | 
| Class: | Insecta | 
| Order: | Diptera | 
| Suborder: | Nematocera | 
| Infraorder: | Culicomorpha | 
| Superfamily: | Chironomoidea | 
| Family: | Chironomidae Newman, 1834 | 
| Subfamilies | |
| See text | |
Chironomidae /ˌkaɪrəˈnɒmɪdiː/, commonly known as non-biting midges or chironomids /kaɪˈrɒnəmɪdz/, are a family of Nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the families Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae. Although many chironomid species superficially resemble mosquitoes, they can be distinguished by the absence of wing scales and elongated mouthparts characteristic of the Culicidae (true mosquitoes).
The name Chironomidae stems from the Ancient Greek word kheironómos, "a pantomimist".