Characters from larval morphology are analyzed to infer the phylogenetic relationships of the seven genera of the dytiscid tribe Colymbetini known worldwide: Bunites Spangler, Colymbetes Clairville, Hoperius Fall, Meladema Laporte, Melanodytes Seidlitz, Neoscutopterus J. Balfour-Browne, and Rhantus Dejean. A parsimony analysis based on 31 informative larval characters was conducted with the program PAUP*. Based on this study, the monophyly of the Colymbetini is indicated by at least five synapomorphies. Whereas the strict consensus tree support the topology Rhantus + [Neoscutopterus + (Meladema + Bunites)], the relative position of Hoperius, Colymbetes and Melanodytes remains unresolved within the Colymbetini. Larvae of Meladema and Bunites share with those of Neoscutopterus the presence of additional setae on the frontoclypeus, the parietale, the abdominal segment VIII and the urogomphi. Larvae of Meladema and Bunites are unique among other Colymbetini being characterized by the presence of a variable number of additional setae along the dorsal margin of both femora and tibiae.