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1.         Ligula present, antennae retractable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tanypodinae

            Ligula not present, antennae not retractable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2.         Premandibles absent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Podonominae

            Premandibles present. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3.         3rd antennal segment annulate, or, if not annulate, antenna 4 segmented and mandible
            with 5- 6 inner teeth and mentum as in Protanypus (lacking distinct teeth on central 2/3)
            . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diamesinae

            3rd antennal segment not annulate; antenna and mandible variable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4.         Ventomental plates usually well developed and striated (plates reduced and not distinctly
            striated in Stenochironomus and Xestochironomus), never with beard beneath. . . . . . .
            . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..             . . . . . . . . . Chironominae

            Ventromental plates, if present, not striated although they may be wrinkled or may have beard
            beneath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

5.         Antennae 4 segmented, ventromental plates well developed and with beard beneath. . . . .
            . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prodiamesinae

            Antennae not 4 segmented, or if 4 segmented then ventromental plate not well developed or
            beard absent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6.         Prementum with dense, well-developed median brush; antenna short and 4 segmented;
            premandible short and broad with strong inner brush; labrum with simple S setae; procercus
            absent; marine habitat; not know from Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Telmatogetoninae

            Prementum without median brush; other characters variable, but not as above combination;
            wide variety of habitats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ortholadiinae, 7

7.         Antennae arise from tubercles on head that are longer than wide. . . . . . . . Tribe Tanytarsini

           Antennae usually sessile, if on tubuercles, these are not longer than wide. . Tribe Chironomini

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Key to Subfamilies of Chironomidae

From Simpson & Bode, 1980 and Bolton, 2012

to Proceed with Identification Refer to Bolton, 2012