China & Miller (1959) revived Hydroessinae to replace Microveliinae China & Usinger, 1949. However, since Hydroessa Burmeister, 1835, is a junior subjective synonym of Microvelia Westwood, 1834 (see below) and since the name Microveliinae has won general acceptance, it becomes a senior synonym of Hydroessinae Fieber, 1860, sharing its year of publication (ICZN, Art. 40).
Extralimital tribes: Hebroveliini Lundblad, 1939, W and C Africa; Velohebriini Štys, 1976, New Guinea.