ABSTRACT. The family Pythidae is defined on adult and larval characters to include the subfamilies Pythinae and PllipalPlnae. Trachelostenidae stat.n. is excluded. Relationships of Pythidae, Boridae, Trictenotomidae and SalPlngidae (s.l.) are analysed. Strong resemblances between some PllipalPlnae and Pyrochroidae appear to have arisen through convergent evolution. Adults and larvae of the New Zealand genera Techmessa, Techmessodes and Exocalopus are described. In Scraptiidae, adults of the New Zealand genera Nothotelus and Phytilea, and the larva of Nothotelus, are described. Type data are given for all described New Zealand species of these families. The following new synonymies are established: PllipalPlnae (Abdullah, 1964)=Techmessinae Paulus, 1971. Exocalopus pectinatus Broun, 1893=nitidiceps Broun, 1910. Techmessa concolor Bates, 1874=attenuata Broun, 1893=rugicollis Broun, 1910=unicolor Paulus, 1971. Techmessa telephoroides Bates, 1874=varians Broun, 1893. Techmessodes Plcticornis (Broun, 1880)=distans (Sharp, 1882). Techmessodes versicolor Broun, 1893=cephalotes Broun, 1910. The following genera are reassigned to the families indicated: Ischyomius to Trictenotomidae (from Pythidae or Melandryidae). Phytilea to Scraptiidae (from Oedemeridae or Anthicidae). Pseudananca to Aderidae (from Oedemeridae). Scraptogetus (=Metasclera) to Aderidae (from Scraptiidae, Oedemeridae or Anthicidae).