Howickia zonula Marshall

Marshall, S. A., Luk, S. P. L. & Dong, H., 2014, A revision of the New Zealand species of Howickia Richards, Zootaxa 3887 (1), pp. 1-36 : 35

Howickia zonula Marshall sp. nov.

( Figs. 75–78)

Description. Head: Eye small, 1.5–1.8X genal height. Thorax: Scutellum 2.0X as wide as long; basal and apical marginal bristles subequal in length.

Male abdomen: Sternite 5 slightly shorter than sternite 4 medially, posteromedial area pale with only small setulae; posteromedial margin with two straight combs, the anterior one with about 15 bristles and the posterior one with about 30 much smaller bristles. Subanal plate with ventral 2/3 widely split medially, upper third complete. Cercus broadly triangular, tapered ventral part projecting well below subanal plate, with several short bristles. Elongate-oval with ventral margin strongly concave, posteromedial margin with a stout, medially directed dark spur and 2 flat, pale bristles projecting over base of spur (one dorsal, one lateral). Distiphallus simple, with a saddle-like sclerotized middle section and an expanded membranous apex. Postgonite long, straight and narrow. Basiphallus frame-like, projecting posteriorly beyond distiphallus base for a distance almost equal to width of distiphallus base.

Female. No females with everted ovipositors were available for study.

Type material. Holotype (male, NZAC): Big South Cape Island, 60–90 m, ex. litter, 8.Nov.1988, J. McBurney. Paratypes: Same as holotype (7 males, 1 female, NZAC; three of the males bleached white from alcohol storage).

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the Latin diminutive for a girdle or belt, referring to the double-rowed belt of posteromedial bristles on the male fifth sternite.