Oxyscelio nasi 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 : 134-136

Oxyscelio nasi Burks sp. n. Figures 203-206; Morphbank67

Description.

Female. unknown.

Male. Body length 3.45-4.05 mm (n=2).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both dark brown. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: longer than broad. A11: longer than broad.

Ventral clypeal margin: with slightly convex median lobe. Interantennal process: 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: with transverse carinae. 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; irregularly rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: present laterally, absent medially. Oc ciput sculpture: smooth. 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. 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 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. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: granulate. Median mesoscutal carina: present as a flattened or rounded elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: granulate. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally, smooth ventrally. 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: broadly separated, not parallel anteriorly. Setae in metasomal depression: absent. Anterior sculpture of metasomal depression: with median areole or pair of pits. Median propodeal carina: absent.

T1 midlobe longitudinal carinae: 4. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T7: broadly and deeply emarginate, with rounded posterolateral margins; weakly emarginate.

Diagnosis.

Male: Interantennal process elongate, extending far beyond antennal insertions. Frontal depression low and flat, with some rounded transverse carinae. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by a strong ruga; occipital carina incomplete medially; occiput almost entirely smooth. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum granulate, without strong sculpture.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “nose.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275556]

Material examined.

Holotype, male: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: West New Britain Prov., New Britain Isl., primary forest edge, Cape Hoskins, 21.VI-27.VI.1973, malaise trap, Stibick, OSUC 368915 (deposited in CNCI). Paratype: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 1 male, OSUC 369128 (CNCI).

Comments.

Oxyscelio nasi does not greatly resemble any other species of Oxyscelio . The elongate interantennal process is very distinctive, as is the weak mesoscutal and mesoscutellar sculpture. The two male specimens differ in the depth of the apical T7 emargination, but this is regarded here as intraspecific variation.