Oxyscelio fluctuum 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 : 81-84

Oxyscelio fluctuum Burks sp. n. Figures 107-112; Morphbank48

Description.

Female. Body length 2.55-3.25 mm (n=17).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer 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: with transverse ledge, face sharply receding below it. Transverse curved rugae extending from frontal depression to eye: present. Median longitudinal carina in frontal depression: absent. Ventral portion of frontal depression: with medially interrupted transverse carinae. 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: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: present as a single carina. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: present laterally, absent medially. Occiput sculpture: umbilicate punctate. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, complete. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate punctate; absent. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate punctate; absent. 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: not steep, forming less than a right angle. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate punctate. Mesoscutal midlobe sculpture at midlength: not different from nearby sculpture. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: obliquely rugose; umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate punctate. 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 ven trally. Metascutellum shape: slightly emarginate posteriorly, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex at rest: exceeding metasomal apex. 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: present.

T 1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 4. T1 lateral carina: straight. T2 sculpture: densely foveolate, longitudinal sculpture irregular. 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: 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 2.45-3.1 mm (n=). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: longer than broad. A11: longer than broad. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. 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: truncate.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression shallow; submedian carina indicated by a set of weak rugae, flat or only weakly rounded dorsally. Hyperoccipital carina sharp and strong. Occipital carina incomplete, lateral portions nearly reaching hyperoccipital carina. Occiput almost entirely smooth, with a row of setiferous puncta. Mesoscutum without median carina. Metascutellum broad and concave, truncate or slightly convex apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein present. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina not expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A4, A5 broader than long. Frontal depression with very weak oblique, interrupted carinae in lower portion. Mesoscutellum weakly sculptured, with only setiferous puncta or small foveae. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach far beyond metasomal apex. T6 broader than long. Male: A4 broader than long, A11 longer than broad. Frontal depression with long, strongly oblique carinae that are continuous with rugae that extend outside frontal depression to approach eye margin. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach far beyond metasomal apex. T7 tiny, truncate. The head of Oxyscelio fluctuum is similar to that in Oxyscelio rugulosus , except in having much stronger and more elongate oblique carinae. The body otherwise resembles that of Oxyscelio flavipes .

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “waves.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307078]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, rainforest, Charmillin Creek, 17°42'S, 145°31'E, 940m, 1.XII.1997, C. J. Burwell, OSUC 148365 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 16 females, 54 males, Australian Museum K245260 (AMSA); OSUC 438952-438955, 438958-438988, 438992, 439003 (ANIC); QDPC 0-165636, 0-165669, 0-165751, 0-165752, 0-165771, 0-165775, 0-165780, 0-165781, 0-165782, 0-165789 (QDPC); OSUC 148368, 368235, 438957, 438993 (QMBA); OSUC 368233-368234, 368236-368237, 438956, 438989-438991, 438994-439002, 451306 (WINC).