Key to adults in the Bezzia (Bezzia) pulverea complex

(Females of B. leptostyla, n. sp. are unknown)

1 Males .............................................................................................. 2

- Females............................................................................................ 12

2. Apex of gonostylus rounded or blunt, without apical inner or outer prongs (Figs. 33, 44)............................. 3

- Apex of gonostylus with apical inner and outer prongs (Figs. 3, 10–14, 25–26, 52, 63, 69–70) or with only an apical outer prong (Figs. 20, 38, 59–60)................................................................................... 4

3. Gonocoxite and gonostylus short, apex of gonostylus blunt or slightly rounded (Fig. 33); aedeagus with moderately long apical section with sharply pointed tip (Fig. 33); hind tibia brown with narrow pale yellow to light brown basal and broader subapical bands (Fig. 31); hind tarsomere 1 yellow (Fig. 31); mid, hind femur with 0–1 ventral spines (Fig. 31)... B. amblystyla, n. sp.

- Gonocoxite and gonostylus moderately elongate, apex of gonostylus rounded (Fig. 44); aedeagus with very slender, greatly elongate apical section with bifid tip (Fig. 45); hind tibia dark brown without pale yellow or light brown bands (Fig. 43); hind tarsomere 1 dark brown (Fig. 43); mid, hind femora without ventral spines (Fig. 43).................. B. folkertsi, n. sp.

4. Hind tibia brown with moderately broad (0.25 length of tibia) pale yellowish subapical band (Fig. 49); gonostylus very short without narrow neck-like base, apex broad with long slender pointed outer prong and shorter broader blade-like inner prong (Fig. 52)............................................................................... B. huberti, n. sp.

- Hind tibia brown with or without narrow pale yellowish subapical band; gonostylus moderately long to elongate with narrow neck-like base, apex with inner and outer prongs or only outer prong............................................ 5

5. Hind femur and tibia brown to dark brown without yellowish or light brown bands (Figs. 8, 16, 28, 37, 56, 62)........... 6

- Hind femur and tibia brown with yellowish or light brown bands on both or only one of these segments(Figs. 4, 21, 67).... 9

6. Hind tarsomere 1 dark brown (Fig. 37); gonostylus short, very broad with slender sharply pointed outer prong (Fig. 38)...................................................................................... B. brunneipedia, n. sp.

- Hind tarsomere 1 yellowish to light brown (Figs. 8, 56, 62, 67); gonostylus elongate with apical inner and outer prongs (Figs. 3, 10–14, 25–26, 63), elongate with only a long outer prong (Figs. 59–60), or short, broad with apical inner and outer prongs (Figs. 69–70), or with only an outer prong (Fig. 20).......................................................... 7

7. Inner prong of gonostylus longer than outer prong (Fig. 63); fore femur with 8–9 ventral spines (Fig. 62); antennal flagellum very long, length 1.79–1.83 mm (Fig. 61)............................................... B. marylandensis, n. sp.

- Inner prong of gonostylus much shorter than outer prong (Figs. 20, 25–26, 60, 69–70); fore femur with 2–7 (rarely 8) ventral spines; antennal flagellum shorter, length 1.06–1.69 mm (Fig. 7)................................................ 8

8. Gonostylus usually slender distally with blunt, folded, flap-like inner prong and very short outer prong (Figs. 10–11); aedeagus very broad with relatively short apical section (Fig. 11); southeastern USA species, Maryland to Florida, west in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana ............................................................. B. laciniastyla Dow & Turner

- Gonostylus broad distally with elongate, curved outer prong with pointed tip and short rounded inner prong (Figs. 25–26); aedeagus broad with elongate, triangular relatively narrow apical section (Fig. 25–26); wide ranging Nearctic species, Alaska, British Columbia to New Brunswick, south to California, New Mexico, east in Utah, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Nebraska, New York, Connecticut, south to Maryland and Virginia ..................................... B. uncistyla Dow & Turner

9. Gonostylus with well-developed inner and outer prongs (Figs. 3, 69–70)........................................ 10

- Gonostylus with elongate outer prong, and rounded or without an inner prong (Figs. 20, 59–60)...................... 11

10. Gonostylus moderately long, slender, apex with inner prong longer than outer prong (Fig. 3); fore femur yellow without dark bands, with 4–9 ventral spines (Fig. 4); large species, wing length 1.95–2.35 mm ............... B. pulverea (Coquillett)

- Gonostylus very short with very broad claw-like apex, outer prong very long, greatly curved, inner prong shorter, broad, blade-like (Figs. 69–70); fore femur yellowish or light brown with brown basal band, with or without poorly developed narrow subapical brown band and 2–4 ventral spines (Fig. 67); medium-size species, wing length 1.62–1.81 mm .................................................................................................... B. titanochela, n. sp.

11. Fore femur with 4 ventral spines; sternite 9 long with a narrow deep apico-medial excavation that lacks a fringe of setae; gonostylus very short, broad with slender, curved outer prong (Fig. 20); fore, mid tibiae yellowish brown with darker brown narrow dorsal stripes that extend 4/5 of their total lengths (Fig. 21)................................ B. spicata Dow & Turner

- Fore femur with 6–8 ventral spines (Fig. 56); sternite 9 moderately long with narrow shallow U-shaped apico-medial excavation that lacks a fringe of setae (Figs. 59–60); gonostylus elongate with very long slightly curved outer prong (Fig. 60), but lacks an inner prong; fore tibia yellowish to light brown with broad central and narrower apical brown bands, mid tibia brown or medium brown with pale narrow subapical band or with poorly defined basal band and broader well developed pale subapical band (Fig. 56)......................................................................... B. leptostyla, n. sp.

12. Femora, tibiae brown, hind leg darkest with only a poorly developed narrow light brown apical band on forefemur, mid-, hind femur and all tibiae without pale bands (Fig. 47); mid-, hind femur without ventral spines; spermathecae subequal-size, very small (larger 0.09 mm, smaller 0.08 mm long)................................................ B. folkertsi, n. sp.

- Femora, tibiae yellowish to dark brown with yellowish or light brown bands on some or all legs (Figs. 4, 16, 21, 34, 40, 54, 64); mid-, hind femur usually with 1 or more ventral spines; spermathecae unequal-size, medium-size to very large (larger 0.13–0.25 mm, smaller 0.08–0.17 mm long) (Figs. 6, 18, 23, 30, 36, 42, 55, 66, 71)........................................ 13

13. Hind tibia brown with broad to very broad (0.3–0.7 length of tibia) pale yellow subapical or apical band, without large stout apical spines (Fig. 54); spermathecae unequal-size with greatly tapered neck regions, the larger very slender (Fig. 55); AR 1.42–1.56.............................................................................. B. huberti, n. sp.

- Hind tibia brown with (Figs. 4, 21, 34) or without narrow, pale yellow subapical band (Figs. 16, 28, 40, 64), apex usually with 1 or more large apical spines (Figs. 1, 22, 65); spermathecae with or without tapered neck regions, the larger stout or moderately slender; AR 1.00–1.65................................................................................ 14

14. Hind femur and tibia brown to dark brown without yellowish or light brown bands (Figs. 16, 28, 40).................. 15

- Hind femur and tibia brown with yellowish or light brown bands on both or only on one of these segments (Figs. 4, 21, 34)18

15. Hind tarsomere 1 dark brown (Fig. 40); spermathecae with slightly tapered neck regions (Fig. 42)....................................................................................................... B. brunneipedia, n. sp.

- Hind tarsomere 1 yellowish to light brown (Figs. 4, 16, 21, 28, 34, 64); spermathecae with broad neck regions, non-tapered or slightly to moderately tapered (Figs. 6, 18, 23, 30, 36, 55, 66, 71).............................................. 16

16. Antennal flagellum moderately long to very long (length 1.22–1.52 mm); AR 1.51–1.65; fore femur with 5–8 ventral spines (Fig. 64); spermathecae with broad, non-tapered necks (Fig. 66)............................. B. marylandensis, n. sp.

- Antennal flagellum very short to moderately long (length 0.86–1.28 mm); AR 1.21–1.72; fore femur with 2–8 ventral spines (Figs. 16, 21, 28); spermathecae with slightly or moderately tapered necks (Figs. 23, 36, 71)......................... 17

17. Medium-size to large species (wing length 1.57–2.23 mm; Fig. 17); AR 1.25–1.72; southeastern USA species, Maryland, Virginia south to Florida, west in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana .......................... B. laciniastyla Dow & Turner

- Large to very large species (wing length 1.97–2.86 mm; Fig. 29); AR 1.21–1.57; wide ranging Nearctic species, Alaska, British Columbia to New Brunswick, south to California, New Mexico, east to Wisconsin, Nebraska, New York, Connecticut, south to Maryland and Virginia ........................................................... B. uncistyla Dow & Turner

18. Hind tibia without large apical spines (Fig. 34); antennal flagellum very short to short (length 0.77–1.09 mm); spermathecae with greatly tapered necks (Figs. 36, 71).................................................................. 19

- Hind tibia with 3 large apical spines; antennal flagellum short to moderately long (length 1.01–1.35 mm); spermathecae with slightly to non-tapered neck regions (Figs. 6, 23)........................................................... 20

19. Smaller species (wing length 1.39–1.76 mm; Fig. 35); antennal flagellum very short (length 0.77–0.87 mm); palpal segment 3 moderately long (palpal ratio 2.75–4.14)................................................... B. amblystyla, n. sp.

- Larger species (wing length 1.74–1.83 mm); antennal flagellum short (length 1.03–1.09 mm); palpal segment 3 very short (palpal ratio 2.50–2.60)................................................................ B. titanochela, n. sp.

20. Fore femur with 5–8 ventral spines; fore femur yellow without brown bands, mid-, hind femora yellow with or without narrow brown apical band (Fig. 4); fore tibia yellow with poorly developed brown apical band, mid tibia brown with broad yellow subapical band (Fig. 4); palpal segment 3 moderately stout (palpal ratio 2.82–3.54); spermathecae with non-tapered necks (Fig. 6)............................................................................... B. pulverea (Coquillett)

- Fore femur with 2–5 ventral spines; fore-, mid femora yellow with basal and subapical brown bands, hind femur brown with broad subapical yellow band (Fig. 21); fore-, mid tibiae light brown with brown stripes on proximal 4/5 of their dorsal surfaces (Fig. 21); palpal segment 3 moderately slender (palpal ratio 3.40–4.50); spermathecae with slightly tapered necks (Fig. 23)................................................................................. B. spicata Dow & Turner