Oxyscelio verrucae 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 : 236-239

Oxyscelio verrucae Burks sp. n. Figures 397-402; Morphbank103

Description.

Female. Body length 3.5-4 mm (n=11).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both dark brown. Pedicel color: at least partially darker than scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: longer than broad; as long as 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: with some transverse carinae. Submedian carina: present. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: present as a single carina. Carina connect ing occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: present laterally, absent medially. Occiput sculpture: irregularly sculptured. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, complete. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: smooth anteriorly, densely setose posteriorly. 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: transversely rugose; umbilicate punctate. Mesoscutal midlobe sculpture at midlength: not different from nearby sculpture. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; obliquely rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally, smooth ventrally. Metascutellum shape: deeply emarginate, with the resulting pair of posterior processes subtriangular and directed dorsally. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: exceeding metasomal apex. Coxae color brightness: darker than femora. Spines along tibiae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae: broadly separated, but parallel for a short distance anteriorly. Setae in metasomal depression: absent. Anterior sculpture of metasomal depression: absent. 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: anteriorly longitudinally rugose with setal pits spanning interspaces, posteromedially sparsely foveate. T2 sublateral longitudinal foveae: absent. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 sculpture: densely foveate, longitudinal sculpture irregular. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 sculpture: densely foveate, longitudinal sculpture irregular. 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: smooth, with tiny umbilicate foveae. S5 sculpture: smooth, with tiny umbilicate foveae. 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 3.15-3.8 mm (n=17). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: broader than long. A11: longer than broad. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: transversely rugose; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate punctate. 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 small and shallow, transverse carinae absent; submedian carina sharp. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by a set of sharp carinae. Occipital carina complete or incomplete, sometimes gradually becoming indistinguishable medially; occiput with many transverse rugae. Mesoscutum and sometimes mesoscutellum with deeply sunken midline, causing surrounding areas to apparently protrude. Metascutellum broad and deeply concave, laterally with only a narrow longitudinally striate area, weakly emarginate or truncate apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein absent or extremely short. T1 lateral carina not expanded laterally. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 longer than broad, A5 nearly as long as broad. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae that may be obscured by a smooth raised area. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T6. T6 broader than long. Male: All flagellomeres past A3 about as long as broad. T1 midlobe with 5 longitudinal carinae (submedian pair weak). Fore wing long enough to reach beyond T7. T7 tiny, truncate or weakly convex.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “wart.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307118]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: NSW, Point Lookout, New England National Park, 30°29'S, 152°25'E, 12. II– 22.II.1984, malaise trap, I. D. Naumann, OSUC 442343 (deposited in ANIC). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 11 females, 17 males, Australian Museum K245261 (AMSA); OSUC 438815-438817, 438820-438824, 442342, 442345-442354 (ANIC); OSUC 227558, 462571, 462573-462574 (CNCI); OSUC 438818-438819, 438825, 442344 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio verrucae is unusual in having a deep median impression on the mesoscutum, such that submedian areas apparently protrude. It is also unusual in having a large number of strong transverse rugae on the occiput, making it difficult to determine if the occipital carina is present medially or not. This species otherwise resembles Oxyscelio concoloripes , and is provisionally placed in a group with it. Some specimens exist with a completely dark brown body, including antennae and legs. These are considered to be melanistic specimens of the same species.