Phylogeny of the subfamilies of Chironomidae (Diptera)

Summary The phylogeny of the subfamilies of Chironomidae are cladistically analysed using parsimony. A data matrix is presented and some characters discussed. Different outgroup taxa, constraints and options are used, characters unordered or ordered, weighted or unweighted, the results reweighted or not and the results discussed. Telmatogetoninae in all cladograms forms the sister group of the remaining subfamilies. Aphroteniinae in some cladograms forms the sister group of all subfamilies except Telmatogetoninae, whereas in other cladograms, including the preferred cladogram, it is part of Tanypodoinae, which otherwise includes Podonominae, Usumbaromyiinae and Tanypodinae. Chilenomyiinae is basal in Tanypodoinae in some cladograms. In most cladograms, including the preferred cladogram, it is basal in Chironomoinae, which also includes Buchonomyiinae, Diamesinae, Prodiamesinae, Orthocladiinae and Chironominae. The preferred cladogram is compared with the relationships between different subfamilies suggested by previous authors.