Oxyscelio dissimulationis 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 : 69-72

Oxyscelio dissimulationis Burks sp. n. Figures 85-90; Morphbank44

Description.

Female. Body length 4-4.15 mm (n=2).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long.

Ventral clypeal margin: concave. 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: present. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate; transversely rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: granulate. Hyperoccipital carina: present as a single carina. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: present laterally, absent medially. Occiput sculpture: transversely rugose; umbilicate punctate. 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. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent; punctate.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: irregularly foveate, with smooth area dorsally. 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: not different from nearby sculpture. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. 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; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally and ventrally. Metascutellum shape: not emarginate, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching middle of T5; reaching near apex of T5. Coxae color brightness: same color as femora. Spines along tibiae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae: narrowly separated, angled anteriorly to become parallel. 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: 4. T1 lateral carina: protruding laterally, visible from ventral view. 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: strongly convex, tapering and sloping down 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: present. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. Body length 3.5-3.85 mm (n=2). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: broader than long. A11: broader than long. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. 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: 4. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T7: weakly emarginate.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression deep and broad, transverse carinae interrupted or absent; submedian carina present. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by strong and sharp ruga. Occipital carina incomplete medially. Metascutellum deeply concave, not emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein present, short. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4, A5 much broader than long. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae or with these obscured by raised sculpture. T6 without metasomal flanges, not concave apically. Fore wing long enough to reach middle or apex of T5. Male: Flagellomeres between A3 and A11 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach to or beyond T7. T7 weakly emarginate, without projections.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “concealment.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307075]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, via Taroom, FIT 057, Boggomoss No. 30, 25°29'S, 150°08'E, 14-XI-1996 - I-1997, flight intercept trap, Cook & Monteith, QM Reg. No. T35159 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 1 female, 2 males, OSUC 359737 (ANIC); OSUC 445333-445334 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio dissimulationis has a sharp hyperoccipital carina but medially interrupted occipital carina, as in the flavipes-group. The expanded lateral carina of T1 is like that found in the atricoxa-group. Oxyscelio shakespearei is similar in having the above combination of features, but lacks a postmarginal vein.