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 /ˌkrəˈnɒmɪd/, commonly known as non-biting midges or chironomids /kˈrɒnəmɪdz/, 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".