Oxyscelio rami 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 : 173-176

Oxyscelio rami Burks sp. n. Figures 277-282; Morphbank81

Description.

Female. Body length 2.8-3.85 mm (n=12).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: same as scape; at least partially darker than scape. A3: as long as 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: with medially interrupted transverse foveae. 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: absent. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: broadly angular, with rounded median peak. Occiput sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, complete. 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: with shallow irregular carinae, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture. 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: not different from nearby sculpture. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: ab sent. Median mesoscutal carina: present as a vague, occasionally interrupted elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent; punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent; punctate. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally, smooth ventrally. Metascutellum shape: not emarginate, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching base of T5. 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: 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: 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: present as slightly protruding sharp corners. T5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T5 metasomal flanges: present as slightly protruding sharp corners. T6: broader than long. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: with medially truncate emargination, sloping down to apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: present as spine-like structures posterolaterally. 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: present. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: exposed to dorsal view by T6 emargination. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. Body length 3.2-4 mm (n=3). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: broader than long. A11: broader than long. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. 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: reaching middle of T5. T1 midlobe longitudinal carinae: 4. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: present as sharp corners that do not protrude. T6 metasomal flanges: present as sharp corners that do not protrude. T7: with a pair of sharply defined spine-like posterolateral projections.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression deep, with interrupted carinae ventrally, dorsal separator complete medially, carinae present above dorsal separator; submedian carina distinct but only weakly protruding. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by vague rugae. Occipital carina complete, medially sinuate. Mesoscutellar rim not expanded, without median notch. Metascutellum small, weakly emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Coxa same color as rest of leg. Postmarginal vein absent. Female: A4, A5 broader than long. T4, T5 with sharp posterior corners. T6 abruptly narrower than T5, without expanded lateral margins but with narrow and sharp elongate posterior metasomal flanges. Main surface of T6 strongly emarginate medially, sharply raised above apical rim. S6 not exposed to dorsal view. Male: A4, A11 broader than long. Mesoscutellum and mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly with small and densely set foveae, mesoscutellum without smooth area medially. T5, T6 with sharp posterior corners; T6, T7 abruptly narrower than preceding tergum. T7 with narrow and sharp postero-lateral lobes, deeply emarginate, truncate medially. Oxyscelio rami differs from Oxyscelio caudarum and some other species in its stronger frontal depression sculpture and in a slightly different metascutellum and T6 apex.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “branch” or “prong.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307102]

Associations.

Collected on Eucalyptus L’Hér.: [ Myrtales : Myrtaceae ]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: NE QLD, Tea Tree Cave, 4km SE Chillagoe, 17°11'S, 144°34'E, 25.IV.1997, C. J. Burwell, OSUC 148356 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 11 females, 3 males, OSUC 437864-437865, 437867, 437871 (ANIC); OSUC 148381, 148483, 437866, 437870 (QMBA); OSUC 448602 (QPIM); OSUC 268211-268212 (USNM); OSUC 437868-437869, 437872 (WINC).