Oxyscelio absentiae Burks

Burks, Roger A., Masner, Lubomir, Johnson, Norman F. & Austin, Andrew D., 2016, Systematics of the parasitic wasp genus Oxyscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae s. l.), part III: African fauna, ZooKeys 565, pp. 29-71 : 35

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Platygastridae

Oxyscelio absentiae Burks sp. n. Figures 2-5; Morphbank 14

Description.

Female. Body length 2.5-2.65 mm (n = 4).

Radicle color: same as scape. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long. Upper frons: not hood-like. Frontal depression sculpture: with 3 or more broadly interrupted transverse carinae; with 2-4 complete transverse carinae. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: rugose; umbilicate-punctate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: granulate. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate. Hyperoccipital carina: not indicated medially. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: absent. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: absent. Area between vertex and occipital carina: umbilicate-foveate; umbilicate-punctate. Occipital carina medially: uniformly rounded. Lateral corners of occipital carina: absent.

Mesoscutum anteriorly: steep. Mesoscutal median carina: absent or incomplete. 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: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: punctate. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: 4 or more. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Setae along anterior limit of femoral depression: arising from rows of foveae. Metascutellum dorsally: flat or convex. Metascutellar sculpture centrally: with longitudinal carinae. Metascutellar apex: deeply emarginate; shallowly emarginate. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: foveate or rugose. Lateral propodeal carinae antero-medially: strongly diverging. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: absent. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching middle of T5. Hind wing vein (Sc+R): interrupted.

Carinae between T1 midlobe and T1 lateral carina: present. T1 midlobe: obscured by other raised sculpture. T1: with long anterior bulge that reaches metascutellum. T6: longer than broad; as long as broad. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of T6: absent; granulate.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Hyperoccipital carina absent. Gena with granulate sculpture anteroventrally and posteroventrally. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. Metascutellum much broader than long. Metasomal depression not setose, without median carina; lateral propodeal carinae strongly diverging. Hind wing Sc+R interrupted. T1 with carinae between midlobe and lateral carina. Female: A4 broader than long; T1 midlobe with strong anterior horn.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “absence.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=309292]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: SOMALIA: Mogadishu, Shabelle (Shabelli) Valley, Afgooye (Afgoi), 1. II– 15.II.1977, malaise trap, F. Bin, OSUC369416 (deposited in CNCI). Paratypes: SOMALIA: 3 females, OSUC369414-369415, 369417 (CNCI).