Oxyscelio Kieffer

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 : 31-35

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Platygastridae

Oxyscelio Kieffer

Oxyscelio Kieffer 1907: 310. Original description. Type: Oxyscelio foveatus Kieffer, by monotypy. See Burks et al. (2013a, b) for complete bibliography, description of the genus, and discussion of its phylogenetic position within the family.

Freniger Szabó 1956: 47. Original description. Type: Freniger bicolor Szabó, by monotypy and original designation. Masner 1976: 6, 19 (description, keyed). Johnson 1992: 373 (catalogued, catalog of world species). New synonymy

Internal phylogenetic relationships.

The phylogenetic analysis performed with a select group of characters (Fig. 1) found the bicolor -group and African species of the crateris -group to be monophyletic, with Oxyscelio quassus as the sister group to the bicolor -group and the crateris -group species as sister group to all other African species.

These results indicate that recognition of the genus Freniger (with Freniger bicolor as type) would make the genus Oxyscelio paraphyletic. Our understanding of relationships among all Oxyscelio species is insufficient to suggest a robust reclassification of these into monophyletic taxa. Therefore, we opt to treat Freniger as a junior synonym of Oxyscelio .

Species groups of African Oxyscelio

These groups are provided here to indicate intuitively perceived structure within the genus, and to provide an aid for identification. They are succinctly diagnosed here. Some characters are omitted situationally from species group diagnoses because those characters are variable within the group or are otherwise unhelpful for that particular group’s identification. Individual species descriptions can be consulted regarding characters omitted from these diagnoses. The only uniquely African species group is the bicolor -group, which is defined by a character that is unique in Oxyscelio . Two other African species are not placed to group, and may represent important lineages as well (see below). The more lengthy species group diagnoses for the other groups in Burks et al. (2013a, b) can be consulted for the full list of other character states that fully define the crateris -group and cuculli -group.

Oxyscelio bicolor species group

Characteristics. Hyperoccipital carina absent or not connected to occipital carina. Hind wing vein (Sc+R) interrupted.

Comments. The bicolor -group contains species with a broadly interrupted hind wing vein (Sc+R). This feature is unique to this group within Oxyscelio , and previously has been used to help define the Scelionini , Nixoniini , and Sparasionini ( Masner 1976)

Contains: Oxyscelio absentiae , Oxyscelio bicolor , Oxyscelio idoli , Oxyscelio xenii .

Oxyscelio crateris species group

Characteristics. Hyperoccipital carina connected to occipital carina laterally. Hind wing vein (Sc+R) not interrupted.

Comments. The crateris -group also occurs in the Indo-Malayan realm, with species that have a slightly less pronounced “crater” on the occiput between the hyperoccipital and occipital carinae. A potential species complex within this group contains Oxyscelio io , Oxyscelio nemesis , and Oxyscelio teli , which are vaguely similar in the shape of the head, body, hyperoccipital carina, and occipital carina. However, that grouping was not upheld by the phylogenetic analysis and could not be characterized with any consistently definable features.

Contains: Oxyscelio gyri , Oxyscelio io , Oxyscelio lunae , Oxyscelio nemesis , Oxyscelio pulveris , Oxyscelio kylix , Oxyscelio teli .

Oxyscelio cuculli species group

Characteristics. Hyperoccipital carina present as a sharp carina but not connected to occipital carina laterally. Hind wing vein (Sc+R) not interrupted.

Comments. The cuculli -group also occurs throughout the Indo-Malayan realm, with species very similar to the only known African species.

Contains: Oxyscelio galeri .

Species not placed to group

Included species: Oxyscelio intensionis , Oxyscelio quassus .

Comments. There is some general resemblance between Oxyscelio intensionis and the Australian aciculae-group, but members of that group do not have a setose metasomal depression. Oxyscelio quassus has a setose metasomal depression, but lacks the important features of other species groups, resembling the bicolor -group but having a complete hind wing vein. The Indo-Malayan and Australian dasymesos-group differs from Oxyscelio intensionis in occipital sculpture and in having sharp projections from the corners of T7. The dasymesos-group differs from Oxyscelio quassus in having a complete mesoscutal median carina, and in having a very different (short and stout) body shape.

Key to African species of Oxyscelio