The Xeromelissinae are primarily restricted to South America. They are of small to minute size and most nest in twigs. The 5 currently accepted genera are Geodiscelis and Xeromelissa, both monotypic; Xenochilicola with 5 species, Chilimelissa with 40 and Chilicola with at least 100 divided into between 8 and 12 subgenera. Both monotypic genera, 2 species of Xenochilicola, 2 species from each major species group of Chilimelissa and at least 2 species from each subgenus and numerous undescribed outlying taxa from Chilicola were analysed phylogenetically on the basis of 130 morphological characters with Hylaeus as outgroup. Xeromelissa renders Chilimelissa paraphyletic and as the older name, takes precedence. Thus emended, the generic level phylogeny for the Xeromelissinae is Chilicola(Xenochilicola(Geodiscelis+Xeromelissa)). The new placement of Xenochilicola was unexpected and the extent to which it depends upon mafiamorphies (shady characters) will be explored. Within Chilicola, it seems that some of the subgenera sunk by Michener may need to be resurrected and that some groups of undescribed species may require recognition at the subgeneric level. Extreme modifications of the male hind legs have arisen at least 4 times in the subfamily and generally involve apparently grappling, restraining and/or clamping structures. Tongue length is not as clearly related to host floral morphology as one might expect and one possible reason for part of this mismatch will be discussed.