Chironomus is a genus of nonbiting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family, Chironomidae, containing several cryptic species that can only be distinguished by experts based on the characteristics of their giant chromosomes.

In the early 20th century the name Tendipes Meigen, 1800 was often used instead. In 1963 the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature restored the traditional name Chironomus, which was first published in 1803 by Johann Wilhelm Meigen.

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