Adults of this family are relatively large (similar in size to mosquitoes),
nonbiting midges. The family has a worldwide distribution and includes 6
extant genera with a total of 50 species. As treated here, the family excludes Corethrella, which is relegated to the Corethrellidae.
Immatures are most commonly found in lentic habitats, ranging from small
pools to lakes. Some species of Chaoborus are known elsewhere to
occur in huge numbers as planktonic larvae or as adults in swarms. Larvae
of all species are predaceous with the exception of Australomochlonyx nitidus, which has been shown to be a filter feeder.
Our understanding of this family has been markedly improved by the recent
publication of an analysis of the Australian fauna by Colless (1986). Vlaardingerbroek
(1984) has recorded but not described Chaoborus larvae from Papua
New Guinea.
Refs.: Colless (1977, biol.; 1986, rev., key), Edwards (1930a), Freeman
(1962), Borkent (1993, world cat.).
AUSTRALOMOCHLONYX Freeman, 1962: 41. Type species: Australomochlonyx
nitidus Freeman, 1962, orig. des.
nitidus Freeman, 1962: 41. Australia (Vic); Australia (NSW).
CHAOBORUS Lichtenstein, 1800: 174. Type species: Chaoborus
antisepticus Lichtenstein, 1800 [= Tipula crystallina De Geer,
1776], mon.
CORETHRA Meigen, 1803: 260. Type species: Tipula culiciformis De Geer, 1776 [misid., = Tipula crystallina De Geer, 1776], mon.
SAYOMYIA Coquillett, 1903b: 190. Type species: Corethra punctipennis Say, 1823, orig. des.
longicercus Colless, 1986: 22. Australia (NT); Australia (Qld, WA).
ornatipennis Colless, 1986: 15. Australia (NSW); Australia (ACT,
Qld, Vic).
punctilliger Colless, 1986: 20. Australia (NT); Australia (Qld, WA).
queenslandensis Theobald, 1905f: 43 (Sayomyia). Australia
(Qld); Australia (NSW, NT); Malaysia.
sampsera Ogawa & Judd, 2008: 293. Indonesia (Papua).
vagus Colless, 1986: 11. Australia (SA); Australia (ACT, NSW, Qld,
Tas).
PROMOCHLONYX Edwards, 1930a: 540. Type species: Corethra australiensis Ferguson, 1921, orig. des.
australiensis Ferguson, 1921c: 30 (Corethra). Australia (Vic);
Australia (NSW, Qld, WA).