Oxyscelio unguis 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 I: Indo-Malayan and Palearctic fauna, ZooKeys 292, pp. 1-263 : 219-222

Oxyscelio unguis Burks sp. n. Figures 420-425Morphbank110

Description.

Female. Body length 3.2-4.45 mm (n=12).

Radicle color: darker than scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: broader than long; as long as broad. A5: broader than long. Antennal club: formed, segments compact.

Interantennal process: not elongate. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Frontal depression: concave. Frontal depression sculpture: with 2 oblique interrupted carinae. Submedian carina: strong, formed by a sharp raised carina. Submedian carina medially: without peak. Concavity across dorsal part of frontal depression: absent. Depression extending ventrally from median ocellus: absent. Upper frons: hood-like, protruding over pedicel when antenna at rest. Malar area near antennal foramen: without carina or expansion. Malar area at mouth corner: with radiating striae. Smooth strip along posterior side of malar sulcus: present, broad throughout its length. Middle genal carina: absent. Direction of middle genal carina dorsally: absent (replace with question mark). Major sculpture of gena anteriorly: rugose; umbilicate-punctate. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: rugose; umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: complete, continuous with anterior genal carina. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: absent. Area between vertex and occipital carina: irregularly rugose. Occipital carina medially: uniformly rounded. Lateral corners of occipital carina: sharp and protruding.

Lateral pronotal area: with slight bulge projecting anteriorly towards anterior pit. Epomial corner: weak. Netrion surface anteriorly: not inflexed. Mesoscutum anteriorly: not steep. Mesoscutal median carina: present and complete. Longitudinal carina between median carina and notauli: absent. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: absent. Mesoscutellar apex: convex or straight. Setae along anterior limit of femoral depression: arising from rows of foveae. Number of carinae crossing speculum above femoral depression: 3. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: more than 5. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: with scattered rugae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. Metascutellar setae: with many dorsal setae. Metascutellar apex: weakly emarginate. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae anteromedially: weakly diverging. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: one or more areoles present. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching apex of T6; reaching beyond T6.

T1 midlobe: with 4 longitudinal carinae. T1: without anterior bulge. T2: with straight longitudinal striae or rugae. T6: broader than long. Apical flange of T6: exposed apically. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male. Body length 4.1-4.25 mm (n=4). A5 tyloid: expanded, teardrop-shaped or sinuate. A11: longer than broad. Median tooth of frontal depression: absent. Median lobe of T1: with 5 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frons without elevation between antennal foramen and eye. Hyperoccipital carina present, continuous with anterior genal carina. Medial mesoscutum weakly sculptured, without longitudinal rugae. Metascutellum with dorsal setae. Metasomal depression short; lateral propodeal carinae narrowly separated anteriorly. Postmarginal vein very long: more than 1/3 stigmal vein length, marginal vein narrow. Female: A4 as broad or broader than long, A5 broader than long. T1 with 4 longitudinal carinae, in two sets that are broadly separated medially. Male: A5 tyloid expanded. Frontal depression without tooth-like median protrusion dorsally. T1 midlobe with 5 longitudinal carinae. T7 with tiny, sharp and weakly protruding posterolateral corners.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “fingernail.” Refers to the usually elongate apical flange of T6 in females.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275561]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: INDONESIA: Kalimantan Barat Prov., Cabang Panti Research Station, 1° rainforest / sandstone, IIS 910129, Gunung Palung National Park, 01°15'S, 110°05'E, 100-400m, 15. VI– 15.VIII.1991, malaise trap/pan trap, Darling, Rosichon & Sutrisno, OSUC 257040 (deposited in MBBJ). Paratypes: (12 females, 4 males) INDONESIA: 7 females, 3 males, OSUC 464007 (CNCI); OSUC 240922, 240924, 257051 (MBBJ); OSUC 228708, 240921, 241814 (OSUC); OSUC 240919, 251427, 257090 (ROME). MALAYSIA: 4 females, 1 male, OSUC 376586, 376588 (BMNH); OSUC 369064-369065 (CNCI); OSUC 364961 (MZLU). THAILAND: 1 female, OSUC 335145 (QSBG).

Comments.

In females of Oxyscelio unguis , the longitudinal carinae of the T1 midlobe are separated into two sets by a broad median smooth area. A median 5th carina is present in males, which are also distinctive in having an expanded A5 tyloid. Several other species of Oxyscelio have a similarly expanded tyloid, including the very similar species Oxyscelio ceylonensis .