The
Limoniinae are a
paraphyletic assemblage of genera within the crane flies,
Tipulidae, although they can usually be distinguished by the way the wings are held at rest. Limoniines usually hold/fold the wings along the back of the body, whereas other tipulids usually hold them out at right angles. Members of the genus
Chionea (snow flies) have no wings at all. Limoniines are also usually smaller than other tipulids, with some exceptions. Limoniinae are a very large assemblage with nearly 10500 described species in 133 genera, and were historically treated as a subfamily, but their classification is in flux; numerous authors recently treated the group at the rank of family, but subsequent
phylogenetic analyses revealed that the remaining groups of tipulids render the group
paraphyletic. These flies are found in damp places
throughout the world, and many species form dense swarms in suitable habitats.