Oxyscelio uncinorum 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 : 228-231

Oxyscelio uncinorum Burks sp. n. Figures 381-386; Morphbank100

Description.

Female. Body length 3.15-3.75 mm (n=17).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both dark brown. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter than pedicel. A4: broader than long. 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: without transverse carinae. Submedian carina: present only as a weak shift in elevation. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: omicron-shaped, with sharp corners where median portion meets lateral portions. Occiput sculpture: transversely rugose. 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; rugose; absent. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: anteriorly smooth, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture, ventral corner with irregular carinae. Posterior border of central pronotal area: directed anteriorly, protruding at corner of epomial carina and transverse pronotal carina. 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: with large smooth areas. 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: present as a vague, occasionally interrupted elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. 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: with slight, indistinct sculpture 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: same color as 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: with median areole or pair of pits. Median propodeal carina: present.

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: with medially truncate emargination, sloping down to 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: absent. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. Body length 3.25-3.85 mm (n=20). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: broader than long. A11: longer than broad. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; longitudinally rugose. 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; obscured by other raised sculpture. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T7: with a pair of sharply defined spine-like posterolateral projections.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Body entirely dark brown, including antennae and legs. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum black. Frontal depression shallow, transverse carinae absent; submedian carina indicated by weak rugae. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina complete, omicron-shaped medially. Metascutellum deeply concave, emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Tibiae with flattened spines. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal sterna with longitudinal rugae. Female: A3 shorter than pedicel. A4, A5 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. T6 without metasomal flanges. Fore wing long enough to reach beyond metasomal apex. Main body of T6 not abruptly separated from apical rim. Male: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 broader than long, A11 longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae that may be obscured by raised sculpture. Fore wing long enough to exceed metasomal apex. T7 with elongate spine-like posterior projections.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “barbs.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307116]

Associations.

Collected on Eucalyptus stellulata Sieber: [ Myrtales : Myrtaceae ]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: ACT, Honeysuckle Creek, 35°35'S, 149°00'E, 21. III– 31.III.1985, malaise trap, I. Naumann & J. Cardale, OSUC 359606 (deposited in ANIC). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 15 females, 43 males, ANIC DB 32-020901, OSUC 359607, OSUC 359608, OSUC 359609, OSUC 359610, OSUC 359611, OSUC 359612, OSUC 359613, OSUC 359614, OSUC 359615, OSUC 359616, OSUC 359617, OSUC 359618, OSUC 359619, OSUC 359620, OSUC 359621, OSUC 359622, OSUC 436998, OSUC 436999, OSUC 437000, OSUC 437001, OSUC 439583, OSUC 439584, OSUC 439585, OSUC 439588, OSUC 439589, OSUC 453964, OSUC 453965, OSUC 453966, OSUC 453967, OSUC 453968, OSUC 453969, OSUC 453970, OSUC 453971, OSUC 453972, OSUC 453973, OSUC 453974, OSUC 453975, OSUC 453976, OSUC 453977, OSUC 453978, OSUC 453979, OSUC 453980, OSUC 453981, OSUC 453982, OSUC 453983, OSUC 453984, OSUC 453985 (ANIC); NSW Agriculture ASCT00132286 (ASCU); OSUC 448923-448924 (BMNH); OSUC 462590 (CNCI); OSUC 453986 (MVMA); OSUC 439586, 453987-453989 (TDAH); OSUC 439587 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio uncinorum is one of a few Australian species with distinct tibial spines. These are apparently expanded setae, and therefore can be difficult to distinguish, especially on males because of their more densely setose tibiae. Tasmanian specimens were closely examined for differences from mainland specimens, but were not found to be more or less identical.