Oxyscelio nigriclava (Dodd)

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 : 136-139

Oxyscelio nigriclava (Dodd) Figures 207-212; Morphbank68

Sceliomorpha nigriclava Dodd, 1914: 104 (original description); Kieffer 1926: 303, 307 (description, keyed); Naumann et al. 1994: 71 (holotype transferred to ANIC).

Oxyscelio nigriclavus (Dodd): Dodd 1931: 76 (generic transfer); Galloway 1976: 99 (type information).

Description.

Female. Body length 3.95-4.3 mm (n=6).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. 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. Me dian longitudinal carina in frontal depression: absent. Ventral portion of frontal depression: with medially interrupted transverse foveae. Dorsal portion of frontal depression: with medially interrupted transverse carinae. Submedian carina: present. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: granulate. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: weakly arched dorsally, with rounded lateral corners. Occiput sculpture: irregularly sculptured. 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. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: anteriorly smooth, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture, ventral corner with irregular carinae. 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: absent. 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: punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. 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. 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. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex at rest: not reaching base of T5. Coxae color brightness: same color as femora.

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: present as slightly protruding sharp corners. T6: broader than long. Major sculpture of T6: longitudinally striate; umbilicate foveate. 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: present. 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 3.4-3.7 mm (n=2). 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. 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 T6. T1 midlobe longitudinal carinae: 4. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: present as sharp corners that do not protrude. T7: truncate.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression deep and broad, without transverse carinae; submedian carina sharp but irregular. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by weak rugae. Occipital carina complete, weakly convex or sinuate medially. Metascutellum deeply concave, truncate apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein absent. Coxa same color as rest of leg. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4, A5 broader than long. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe carinae obscured by raised sculpture. T5 with tiny sharp posterior metasomal flanges, T6 with a narrow peripheral carina, main body of T6 raised and abruptly separated from apical rim. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T4 or base of T5. Male: All flagellomeres past A3 as broad or broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach T7. T6 with tiny sharp metasomal flanges. T7 truncate, arched.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=302871]

Material examined.

Holotype, female, S. nigriclava: AUSTRALIA: NSW, no date, ANIC DB 32-012569 (deposited in ANIC). Other material: AUSTRALIA: 7 females, 2 males, OSUC 441379-441382, 441385-441386 (ANIC); OSUC 148370, 441384 (QMBA); OSUC 441383 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio nigriclava is a problematic species that may be near Oxyscelio mirellus and other species with strong Metasomal flanges, but which has a very differently shaped T6 in females. The main body of T6 is distinctly raised above its apical rim, but is not concave apically and has a semi-translucent rim instead of truncated metasomal flanges.