Oxyscelio obliquiatis 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 : 146-149

Oxyscelio obliquiatis Burks sp. n. Figures 225-230; Morphbank71

Description.

Female. Body length 2.65-3.7 mm (n=20).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. 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: without transverse carina. Transverse curved rugae extending from frontal depression to eye: absent. Median longitudinal carina in frontal depression: present. Ventral portion of frontal depression: smooth. 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. 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: smooth. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, complete. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: rugose; 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: 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 punctate. Mesoscutal midlobe sculpture at midlength: not different from nearby sculpture. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: longitudinally rugose; umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: longitudinally rugose; obliquely rugose; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: obliquely rugose; um bilicate 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 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: absent. 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: present.

T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 4. T1 lateral carina: straight; 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: 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 2.5-3.4 mm (n=20). 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; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate punctate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate punctate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: granulate. 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: 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 short and not approaching hyperoccipital carina. Occiput mostly smooth, with many rugae dorsally and with a row of weak setiferous puncta. Metascutellum broad and concave, strongly emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein present. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina slightly expanded laterally, sometimes visible from ventral view. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 as long or longer than broad, A5 broader than long. Mesoscutellum with strong oblique rugae. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach to or beyond metasomal apex. T6 broader than long. Male: A4, A11 longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Mesoscutellum with extensive granulate sculpture. Fore wing long enough to reach far beyond metasomal apex. T7 tiny, truncate.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “obliqueness.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307092]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, GS1, Mount Haig, 17°06'S, 145°36'E, 1150m, 1. XII– 3.I.1995, flight intercept trap, P. Zborowski, OSUC 359747 (deposited in ANIC). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 27 females, 27 males, OSUC 359746, 359748-359749, 359767, 359769-359774, 359779, 437003 (ANIC); OSUC 359778, 451291, QDPC 0-165649, QDPC 0-165666, QDPC 0-165667, QDPC 0-165671, QDPC 0-165776, QDPC 0-165777, QDPC 0-165785, QDPC 0-165786 (QDPC); OSUC 148358, 148373, 148375, 148384, 148473-148474, 359750-359754, 359756-359761, 359775-359776, 359780-359781 (QMBA); OSUC 359745, 359755, 359762-359766, 359768, 359777, 451289-451290 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio obliquiatis is unusual within the flavipes-group in having a slightly expanded lateral carina of T1. However, all other features support its placement in the flavipes-group. The very strong oblique mesoscutellar rugae in females and granulate sculpture on the mesoscutellum in males, make this species relative easy to recognize.