Oxyscelio valdecatenae Burks

Burks, Roger A., Masner, Lubomir, Johnson, Norman F. & Austin, Andrew D., 2013, Systematics of the parasitic wasp genus Oxyscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae s. l.), part II: the Australian and southwest Pacific fauna, ZooKeys 331, pp. 1-266 : 231-233

Oxyscelio valdecatenae Burks sp. n. Figures 387-392; Morphbank101

Description.

Female. Body length 2.75-3.35 mm (n=4).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both dark brown. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: longer than broad. A5: broader than long.

Ventral clypeal margin: with slightly convex median lobe. Interantennal process: not elongate. Lower frons at dorsal margin of interantennal process: without transverse carina. Transverse curved rugae extending from frontal depression to eye: absent. Median longitudinal carina in frontal depression: absent. Ventral portion of frontal depression: smooth. Dorsal portion of frontal depression: without transverse carinae. Submedian carina: absent. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Upper frons microsculpture: granulate. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: uniformly rounded dorsally. Occiput sculpture: umbilicate foveate; transversely rugose. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: absent. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: granulate. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: anteriorly smooth, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture, ventral corner with irregular carinae. Posterior border of central pronotal area: directed posteriorly, epomial carina absent or meeting transverse pronotal carina at arch on lateral surface of pronotum. Mesoscutum anteriorly: very steep and tall, descending at a right angle or protruding anteriorly. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Mesoscutal midlobe sculpture at midlength: with large smooth areas. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: present as a vague, occasionally interrupted elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: punctate. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: with slight, indistinct sculpture dorsally, smooth ventrally. Metascutellum shape: slightly emarginate posteriorly, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching near apex of T5; reaching middle of T6. Coxae color brightness: same color as femora. Spines along tibiae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae: broadly separated, not parallel anteriorly. Setae in metasomal depression: absent. Anterior sculpture of metasomal depression: with median areole or pair of pits. Median propodeal carina: absent.

T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: obscured by other raised sculpture. T1 lateral carina: straight. T2 sculpture: with longitudinal striae or rugae, setiferous puncta present between them. T2 sublateral longitudinal foveae: absent. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6: broader than long. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: flat and tapering to a rounded apex, not separated from apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 raised peripheral rim: absent. S4 sculpture: longitudinally striate or rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. S5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. S5 median carina: absent. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. Body length 2.8 mm (n=1). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: longer than broad. A11: broader than long. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: exceeding metasomal apex. T1 midlobe longitudinal carinae: 5. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T7: truncate.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression shallow, transverse carinae absent; submedian carina absent medially. Genal carina expanded, with large foveae between it and gena laterally. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina complete, convex. Epomial corner slightly protruding. Mesoscutum with raised longitudinal smooth area postero-medially. Metascutellum broad, deeply concave, slightly emarginate apically. Postmarginal vein present. Entire leg dark brown. Metasomal depression with irregular sculpture. T1 lateral carina not expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 longer than broad, A5 broader than long. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture, densely foveate medially. T1 midlobe carinae obscured by raised area. Fore wing long enough to reach apex of T5 or middle of T6. Male: Fore wing long enough to reach beyond metasomal apex. T7 truncate apically, without apical protrusions. Oxyscelio valdecatenae is smaller than Oxyscelio catenae , but differs chiefly in having a much more strongly sculptured mesoscutellum. Some additional more subtle differences exist, especially in metasomal length and frontal depression sculpture.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning "strong chain."

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307125]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: WA, 5km SE Nornalup, coastal heathlands, Walpole-Nornalup National Park, 17.XII-18.XII.1990, pan trap, A. D. Austin, OSUC 448998 (deposited in WAMP). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 3 females, 1 male, OSUC 462579-462580 (CNCI); OSUC 448999-449000 (WINC).