Oxyscelio intermedietas Oxyscelio intermedietas 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 I: Indo-Malayan and Palearctic fauna, ZooKeys 292, pp. 1-263 : 134-136

Oxyscelio intermedietas Oxyscelio intermedietas Burks sp. n. Figures 253-258Morphbank75

Description.

Female. Body length 2.85-4 mm (n=12).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long. Antennal club: formed, segments compact.

Interantennal process: not elongate. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Frontal depression: concave. Frontal depression sculpture: with 3 or more broadly interrupted transverse carinae. Submedian carina: strong, formed by a sharp raised carina. Submedian carina medially: without peak. Concavity across dorsal part of frontal depression: absent. Depression extending ventrally from median ocellus: absent. Upper frons: not hood-like. Malar area near antennal foramen: without carina or expansion. Malar area at mouth corner: with radiating striae. Smooth strip along posterior side of malar sulcus: absent or not consistently broad. Middle genal carina: present. Direction of middle genal carina dorsally: parallel to eye margin. Major sculpture of gena anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: complete, continuous with anterior genal carina. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: absent. Area between vertex and occipital carina: irregularly rugose. Occipital carina medially: uniformly rounded; convex, with a sharp median peak. Lateral corners of occipital carina: not protruding.

Lateral pronotal area: with slight bulge projecting anteriorly towards anterior pit. Epomial corner: strong. Netrion surface anteriorly: not inflexed. Mesoscutum anteriorly: steep. Mesoscutal median carina: present and complete. Longitudinal carina between median carina and notauli: absent. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: granulate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: granulate. Mesoscutellar apex: convex or straight. Setae along anterior limit of femoral depression: arising from rows of foveae. Number of carinae crossing speculum above femoral depression: 3; 4. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: more than 5. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: 3-5. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: smooth or with transverse carinae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellar apex: deeply emarginate; weakly emarginate. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae anteromedially: weakly diverging. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: one or more areoles present. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching beyond T6.

T1 midlobe: with 4 longitudinal carinae. T1: without anterior bulge. T2: with straight longitudinal striae or rugae. T6: broader than long. Apical flange of T6: exposed apically. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male.Body length 2.7-3.95 mm (n=20). A5 tyloid: carina-like, not expanded. A11: broader than long; as long as broad. Median tooth of frontal depression: absent. Median lobe of T1: with 4 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with no distinct corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frons without elevation between antennal foramen and eye. Frontal depression shallow, not hood-like. Hyperoccipital carina present and sharp, continuous with anterior genal carina. Mesoscutellum with granulate sculpture. Metascutellum without dorsal setae. Propodeum without median carina; lateral propodeal carinae very narrowly separated anteriorly. Female: Fore wings long enough to exceed metasomal apex. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. T6 rounded apically. Male: A11 as broad or broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. T7 with rounded posterolateral corners.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning "that which is between." Refers to its similarity to several other species in the cuculli-group.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275481]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: THAILAND: Kamphaeng Phet Prov., Chong Yen Mt., T2812, Mae Wong National Park, 16°05.968'N, 99°06.472'E, 1306m, 3. IX– 10.IX.2007, malaise trap, C. Piluk & A. Inpuang, OSUC 336091 (deposited in QSBG). Paratypes: (14 females, 55 males) LAOS: 4 males, OSUC 368883-368884, 368887, 368890 (CNCI). NEPAL: 4 females, 3 males, OSUC 369148, 369158, 369161-369165 (CNCI). THAILAND: 7 females, 47 males, OSUC 322084, 352452, 352457 (BMNH); OSUC 368693, 368748, 462828, 464012-464013 (CNCI); OSUC 247628, 247632, 335092, 335857, 336010-336013, 336701, 352461-352469 (OSUC); OSUC 247603, 247916, 285237, 322082, 322085, 336705, 352446-352447, 352449, 352451, 352454, 352458, 352460, 361188-361189, 361191-361192, 361194-361199, 361205, 361207, 361350 (QSBG); OSUC 247602, 247626 (WINC). VIETNAM: 3 females, 1 male, OSUC 369107-369108 (CNCI); OSUC 277676, 281609 (RMNH).

Comments.

Oxyscelio intermedietas seems to be a small-bodied relative of Oxyscelio granorum . It otherwise strongly resembles several other species nearer to its own size, including Oxyscelio cuculli . It differs from these species in several subtle ways, including surface sculpture, shallowness of the frontal depression, and the very narrow anterior separation of the lateral propodeal carinae. While the possibility remains that Oxyscelio intermedietas is just a small form of Oxyscelio granorum , these features proved convincing enough to allow recognition of it as a separate species.