Oxyscelio scutorum 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 : 191-194

Oxyscelio scutorum Burks sp. n. Figures 313-318; Morphbank87

Description.

Female. Body length 2.45-3.4 mm (n=20).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter than pedicel; 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 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; irregularly 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: 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. 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: 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; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: present as a ruga. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; obliquely rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; obliquely rugose. 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 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: 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: absent. Median propodeal carina: absent.

T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: obscured by other raised sculpture. 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: 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: present. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. Body length 2.35-3.35 mm (n=13). 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; irregularly 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. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T7: weakly emarginate.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum black. Frontal depression shallow, transverse carinae absent; submedian carina indicated by a set of irregular elevations or weak carinae. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by sharp carina. Occipital carina with a faintly indicated convex medial portion. Metascutellum concave, broad and short, projecting dorsally. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 shorter than pedicel. A4, A5 much broader than long. Mesoscutellum with obliquely raised sculpture. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. T6 without metasomal flanges. Fore wing long enough to reach or exceed metasomal apex. Male: A4 broader than long, A11 longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to exceed metasomal apex. T7 much broader than long, blunt apically, without posterior projections. Oxyscelio scutorum is very similar to Oxyscelio brevitas in having a roughly sculptured occiput and strong hyperoccipital carina. It differs having a stronger hyperoccipital carina and an indicated submedian carina. The raised oblique mesoscutellar sculpture is also distinctive, but it may be difficult to distinguish in some specimens. It sometimes accompanies a flat, broad median mesoscutellar carina.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “shields.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307107]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, 3.5km SSW Mount Baird, 15°10'S, 145°07'E, 3. V– 5.V.1981, malaise trap, I. D. Naumann, OSUC 359721 (deposited in ANIC). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 22 females, 13 males, ANIC DB 32-020146, OSUC 359716, OSUC 359717, OSUC 359718, OSUC 359719, OSUC 359722, OSUC 359724, OSUC 359730, OSUC 359732, OSUC 359733, OSUC 359734, OSUC 359739, OSUC 359743 (ANIC); OSUC 451368 (BMNH); OSUC 227634, 462754 (CNCI); OSUC 359725 (MVMA); OSUC 451320, QDPC 0-165674 (QDPC); OSUC 359720 (QMBA); OSUC 359713-359715, 359723, 359726, 359728-359729, 359731, 359735, 445346, 448925-448927, 451321-451322 (WINC). Other material: AUSTRALIA: 1 female, OSUC 359727 (WINC).