Oxyscelio palati 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 : 158-160

Oxyscelio palati Burks sp. n. Figures 247-252; Morphbank75

Description.

Female. Body length 2.5-3.4 mm (n=18).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: longer than broad. 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: 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; transversely rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: weakly arched dorsally, with sharp lateral corners; omicron-shaped, with sharp corners where median portion meets lateral portions. 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; absent. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: densely covered with setiferous puncta. 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; irregularly rugose. Mesoscutal midlobe sculpture at midlength: not different from nearby sculpture. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: present as a vague, occasionally interrupted elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent; punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: with slight, indistinct sculpture 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: absent. Median propodeal carina: absent.

T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 5. T1 lateral carina: protruding laterally, visible from ventral view. T2 sculpture: densely foveolate, longitudinal sculpture irregular. T2 sublateral longitudinal foveae: absent. T3 metaso mal 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: slightly emarginate, 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 2.45-3.25 mm (n=19). 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: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. 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: Frontal depression shallow; transverse carinae present ventrally, interrupted; submedian carina very weak or absent medially. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina complete, broadly omicron-shaped medially. Metascutellum deeply concave, emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein absent. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A4 longer than broad, A5 almost as long as broad. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Main body of T6 not abruptly separated from apical rim, T6 slightly concave apically. Fore wing long enough to reach beyond metasomal apex. Male: All flagellomeres longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach beyond metasomal apex. T7 tiny, truncate. Oxyscelio palati is very similar to Oxyscelio hyalinipennis , but differs in having an omicron-shaped occipital carina that has straight connections between the median and lateral portions. It also differs in having a longer antenna, especially in males, and in completely lacking a postmarginal vein. In Oxyscelio hyalinipennis , the venation reaches the wing margin and has a more or less distinct posterior bend indicating the postmarginal vein, but in Oxyscelio palati the venation does not quite reach the anterior wing margin. In known specimens of Oxyscelio palati , the metanotum and posterior rim of the mesoscutellum are amber-colored, in stark contrast to the darker surrounding areas.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “vault.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307096]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, cableway base station, Bellenden Ker Range, 100m, 17. X– 9.XI.1981, window trap, OSUC 359578 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 17 females, 19 males, ANIC DB 32-020100, 32-020145, OSUC 359583, OSUC 359584, OSUC 359585, OSUC 359586, OSUC 359587, OSUC 359602, OSUC 359603, OSUC 359604, OSUC 436939 (ANIC); QDPC 0-165695 (QDPC); OSUC 148367, 359582, 359588, 359600-359601 (QMBA); OSUC 359605 (UQIC); OSUC 359575-359577, 359579-359581, 359589-359599, 451356 (WINC).