Oxyscelio asperi 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 I: Indo-Malayan and Palearctic fauna, ZooKeys 292, pp. 1-263 : 40-43

Oxyscelio asperi Burks sp. n. Figures 42-47Morphbank32

Description.

Female. Body length 3.35-3.6 mm (n=6).

Radicle color: darker than scape. Scape color: Brown. A4: longer than broad. A5: broader than long; as long as broad. Antennal club: formed, segments compact.

Interantennal process: not elongate. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Frontal depression: concave. Frontal depression sculpture: with 2 complete transverse carinae. Submedian carina: strong, formed by a sharp raised carina. Submedian carina medially: without peak. Concavity across dorsal part of frontal depression: absent. Depression extending ventrally from median ocellus: absent. Upper frons: not hood-like. Malar area near antennal foramen: without carina or expansion. Malar area at mouth corner: with one carina. Smooth strip along posterior side of malar sulcus: absent or not consistently broad. Middle genal carina: present. Direction of middle genal carina dorsally: parallel to eye margin. Major sculpture of gena anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: not indicated medially. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: absent. Area between vertex and occipital carina: umbilicate-foveate. Occipital carina medially: uniformly rounded. Lateral corners of occipital carina: not protruding.

Lateral pronotal area: without bulge projecting towards anterior pit. Epomial corner: strong. Netrion surface anteriorly: not inflexed. Mesoscutum anteriorly: not steep. Mesoscutal median carina: present and complete. Longitudinal carina between median carina and notauli: absent. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: umbilicate-punctate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: absent. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: absent. Mesoscutellar apex: convex or straight. Setae along anterior limit of femoral depression: arising from rows of foveae. Number of carinae crossing speculum above femoral depression: 2. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: more than 5. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: smooth or with transverse carinae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellar apex: convex or straight. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: foveate or rugose. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae anteromedially: strongly diverging. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: absent. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching middle of T5.

T1 midlobe: with 5 longitudinal carinae. T1: without anterior bulge. T2: with straight longitudinal striae or rugae. T6: longer than broad. Apical flange of T6: exposed apically. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of T6: granulate.

Male:Body length 3.15-3.5 mm (n=6). A5 tyloid: carina-like, not expanded. A11: longer than broad. Median tooth of frontal depression: absent. Median lobe of T1: with 3 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Middle genal carina weak, subparallel with eye margin. Hyperoccipital carina absent. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. Metascutellum tiny, concave dorsally, smooth aside from some transverse carinae. Metapleuron not crossed by carinae above lower metapleural area, instead with rough irregular sculpture. Female: A4, A5 longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 5 longitudinal carinae. T6 longer than broad. Male: A11 longer than broad. A5 tyloid expanded, sinuate or teardrop-shaped. T7 with short, sharp and protruding posterolateral corners. Oxyscelio asperi is very similar to Oxyscelio crebritas , but is entirely dark brown in color, lacks straight carinae on the metapleuron, and has at most one straight carina crossing the mesofemoral depression. It is also distinctive within the crebritas-group in having relatively long A4 and A5.

Etymology.

Latin noun (2nd declension: asperum, -i), genitive case, meaning "uneven landscape." Refers to the unusual and irregular metapleural sculpture.

Link to distribution map. [http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275569]

Associations. Unspecified association Uncaria Schreber: [Rubiales: Rubiaceae ]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: INDONESIA: Maluku Prov., Ceram (Seram) Isl., Solea, VIII-1987, malaise trap, M. C. Day, OSUC 368934 (deposited in BMNH). Paratypes: INDONESIA: 6 females, 6 males, OSUC 368924-368928, 368932, 368935, 368937 (CNCI); OSUC 368929, 368931, 368933, 368936 (OSUC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio asperi is known only from Seram, and was initially assessed as just a regionally dark form of Oxyscelio crebritas . It is recognized as distinct on strength of the metapleural and mesopleural sculpture.