Key to the apterous or micropterous Sphaeroceridae of New Zealand (all in the genus Howickia)

1 Front of head with three distinct, complete, narrow, parallel-sided silver-white pruinose strips (Figs. 1, 3): one in the middle of the interfrontal area and one on each side of the interfrontal area. Dark part of frons forming parallel bands, not an M-shape (Figs. 1, 3, 7, 10, 12, 14). Halter often absent, face often at least partly bare and shining (Fig. 12). ( H. trilineata group)... 2

- Front of head with interfrontal bristles on converging dull darker strips, middle of interfrontal area forming a triangular, indistinctly silvery area similar to the dorsally incomplete, indistinctly silvery orbital strips (Figs. 16, 17). Dark part of frons forming an M-shape (Figs. 16, 17). Halter always present, face always entirely microtrichose. ( H. myersi group, species identification requires male specimens)................................................................... 11

2 Tergites 1–3 fused into a large syntergite covering most of the abdomen (Figs. 5, 8). Wing rudiment forming a flat, brown flap with a loop of venation (Figs. 5, 6, 8). Postgonite strongly bent anteriorly, with an almost right-angled bend at middle (Fig. 37).................................................................................................... 3

- Syntergite 1+2 separate from tergite 3 (Figs. 1, 9, 11, 13). Wing variable, often entirely absent, if present then usually without venation (Figs. 1, 9, 11, 13). Postgonite gently curved or straight, without a right-angled bend at middle (Figs, 22, 28, 43, 52, 65)................................................................................................. 5

3 Scutum and scutellum similarly dull, densely microtrichose. Orbital bristle very large, similar in size to outer vertical bristle. Face mostly microtrichose, dull. Surstylus without elongate posteroventral lobe or stout ventral bristles (Fig. 45). Halter present........................................................................ H. nudistylus Marshall sp. nov.

- Scutellum shining, bare (Figs. 5, 8). Orbital bristles variable (Figs. 5, 7). Face all or mostly shining (Fig. 7). Surstylus with a stout bristle at apex of posterior lobe (Figs. 35, 39). Halter absent (Figs. 5, 6, 8)................................... 4

4 Upper orbital and outer vertical bristles well developed (Fig. 7). Portion of wing flap distal to loop of venation subequal to portion enclosed by vein (Fig. 8). Scutum entirely microtrichose, dull, contrasting with the bare scutellum (Fig. 8)......................................................................................... H. omamari Marshall sp. nov.

- Upper orbital and outer vertical bristles minute or absent (Fig. 5). Portion of wing beyond loop of venation less than half as large as portion enclosed by vein (Fig. 6). Scutum and scutellum shining, without microtrichia except for narrow anterior and posterior fringes (Fig. 6)...................................................... H. mercurialis Marshall sp. nov.

5 Halter and wing rudiments absent (Figs. 1, 13). Scutum orange to reddish brown, often contrasting with darker abdomen (Figs. 1, 13). Upper orbital bristle strong, as long as outer vertical bristle (Figs. 1, 14). Basal scutellar bristle very long, as long as or longer than apical bristle (Figs. 1, 13)..................................................................... 6

- Halter present or absent, if absent then wing present as a distinct, veinless flap (Figs. 9, 11). Scutum as dark as abdomen (Figs. 9, 11). Upper orbital bristle minute or absent, at most half as long as outer vertical (Figs. 10, 12). Basal scutellar bristle shorter than apical scutellar bristle (Figs. 9, 11).................................................................... 8

6 Thorax and abdomen similarly reddish brown. Surstylus trilobed, with an elongate posterior lobe ending in a terminal spur, a triangular ventral lobe, and a spatulate anterior lobe (Figs. 49, 50). Sternite 5 of male with prominent pale posteromedial area armed with a cluster of very short, broad bristles (Fig. 51)............................... H. regalis Marshall sp. nov.

- Thorax reddish brown, abdomen much darker. Surstylus bilobed. Sternite 5 of male with posteromedial bristles similar in length to other bristles on sternite....................................................................... 7

7 Scutum reddish but lower pleuron, including katepisternum, dark brown (Fig. 13). Hind tibia dorsally dark on distal quarter. Male postabdomen dark, similar to preabdomen. Male sternite 4 with enlarged posteromedial bristles near middle..................................................................................... H. nigriventer Marshall sp. nov.

- Thorax orange except for dark katatergite; katatergite sharply contrasting in colour with balance of thorax (Fig. 1). Hind tibia entirely yellow-orange (Fig. 1). Male postabdomen orange, contrasting with dark abdominal segments 1–5 (Fig. 1). Male sternite 4 without enlarged bristles..................................................... H. bicolor Marshall sp. nov.

8 Halter absent (Fig. 11). Wing rudiment present as a dark, broadly oval, veinless flap several times larger than a normal halter knob (Fig. 11). Ocelli reduced, sometimes apparently absent (Fig. 12)................. H. nigrilegula Marshall sp. nov.

- Halter present (Fig. 9). Wing rudiment small or absent, if present then no larger than a normal halter knob and usually stub-like (Fig. 9). At least posterior ocelli distinct (Fig. 10)........................................................... 9

9 Face entirely shining and bare (Fig. 10). Apex of halter knob truncate, whitish microtrichose (Fig. 9). Orbital bristles absent (Fig. 10)............................................................................ H. trilineata (Hutton)

- Lower margin of face silvery pruinose. Apex of halter knob rounded, dark-microtrichose. Orbital bristles present or absent..................................................................................................... 10

10 Upper orbital bristle absent. Scutellum shining, sparsely setulose. Wing present as a minute, flat, veinless flap. Male sternite 5 with a small posteromedial comb row (Fig. 24)..................................... H. exasperata Marshall sp. nov.

- Upper orbital bristle present. Scutellum densely and evenly microtrichose, dull. Wing a minute stub. Sternite 5 without a posteromedial comb (Fig. 27)....................................................... H. harrisoni Marshall sp. nov.

11 Sternite 5 of male without a posteromedial comb, but sometimes flanked by clusters of short setae (Figs. 55, 64)........ 12

- Male sternite 5 with a posteromedial comb (Figs. 59, 68, 72, 77)............................................... 13

12 Male sternite 5 concave posteromedially, deeper than medial length of sternite; with scattered setae but without a comb or thickened bristles (Fig. 55). Surstyli asymmetrical; right surstylus shorter than left, with a conspicuously blunter and broader terminal spur on posterior lobe (Figs. 53, 54). Both surstyli deeply U-shaped, with anterior and posterior lobes (Fig. 54). Postgonite with beak-like preapical lobe on anterior surface (Fig. 56). Basal scutellar bristle shorter than apical scutellar bristles (Fig. 18). Eye less than 2.0X genal height (Fig.18)................................. H. myersi (Richards) comb. nov.

- Male sternite 5 with posteromedial concavity shallower than medial length of sternite; posteromedial setae enlarged (Fig. 64). Surstyli symmetrical, with main body subquadrate, without prominent anterior lobe, posterior lobe smaller than large terminal spur (Figs. 62, 63). Postgonite without beak-like preapical lobe on anterior surface (Fig. 65). Basal and apical scutellar bristles equal. Eye more than 2.0X genal height............................................. H. palmai Marshall sp. nov.

13 Posteromedial comb of male sternite 5 double, with a prominent, straight row of about 15 short, broad bristles followed by a row of about 30 much smaller bristles (Fig. 77). Surstylus simple, broadly concave ventrally with posterior spur strongly inclinate (Figs. 75, 76)............................................................... H. zonula Marshall sp. nov.

- Posteromedial comb of male sternite 5 single (Figs. 59, 68, 72). Surstylus differently shaped, either subquadrate or with spur directed ventrally................................................................................... 14

14 Posteromedial comb of male sternite 5 straight with teeth fused over most of their length, area immediately anterior to comb with two groups of 8 short stout bristles (Fig. 72). Scutellum 2.0X as wide as long........... H. wahaika Marshall sp. nov.

- Area immediately anterior to posteromedial comb without stout bristles, if comb straight then teeth separated by at least half of their length (Figs. 59, 68). Scutellum 3.0X as wide as long................................................... 15

15 Male sternite 5 with straight posteromedial comb and a cluster of short stout bristles midway between comb and anterior margin (Fig. 68). Surstylus with anterior and posterior ventral lobes each with long spurs, posterior part of surstylus with multiple stout bristles (Figs. 66, 67)........................................................ H. tangata Marshall sp. nov.

- Posteromedial comb triangular or heart-shaped, middle part of sternite 5 without additional bristles (Fig. 59). Surstylus with a single long posteroventral lobe bearing two long spurs (Figs. 57, 58)....................... H. cordata Marshall sp. nov.