Oxyscelio mesiodentis 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 : 165-167

Oxyscelio mesiodentis Burks sp. n. Figures 316-321Morphbank88

Description.

Female. Body length 4.35-5.45 mm (n=13).

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

Interantennal process: not elongate. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Frontal depression: concave. Frontal depression sculpture: without transverse or oblique carinae below submedian carina. 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: hood-like, protruding over pedicel when antenna at rest. Malar area near antennal foramen: with vertical carina extending from clypeus towards frontal depression. Malar area at mouth corner: with radiating striae. Smooth strip along posterior side of malar sulcus: absent or not consistently broad. Middle genal carina: present. Direction of middle genal carina dorsally: absent (replace with question mark). Major sculpture of gena anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; rugose. 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: complete, continuous with anterior genal carina. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: absent. Area between vertex and occipital carina: irregularly rugose. Occipital carina medially: uniformly rounded. Lateral corners of occipital carina: not protruding; sharp and protruding.

Lateral pronotal area: with slight bulge projecting anteriorly towards anterior pit. Epomial corner: weak. Netrion surface anteriorly: not inflexed. Mesoscutum anteriorly: steep; not steep. Mesoscutal median carina: present and complete. Longitudinal carina between median carina and notauli: absent. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate; longitudinally 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: 3. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: more than 5. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: foveate. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. Metascutellar setae: with many dorsal setae. Metascutellar apex: weakly emarginate. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae anteromedially: weakly diverging. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: one or more areoles present. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching apex of T6. 1st metatarsomere over 1.1x as long as metatarsomeres 2-5 combined.

T1 midlobe: with 4 longitudinal carinae. T1: without anterior bulge. T2: with straight longitudinal striae or rugae. T6: broader than long. Apical flange of T6: exposed apically. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate; longitudinally striate or rugose. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male.Body length 3.5-4.95 mm (n=20). A5 tyloid: carina-like, not expanded. A11: longer than broad. Median tooth of frontal depression: present. Median lobe of T1: with 4 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

A4, A5 broader than long. Face with vertical elevation between antennal foramen and eye. Hyperoccipital carina present, continuous with anterior genal carina. Medial mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with many strong longitudinal rugae. Metascutellum with dorsal setae. Female: T1 with 4 longitudinal carinae. Male: A5 tyloid expanded. Frontal depression with tooth-like median protrusion dorsally. T1 midlobe with 3 longitudinal carinae. T7 without distinct posterolateral corners.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, after the dental term mesiodens, the condition of having a supernumerary middle tooth. Refers to the middle tooth of the frontal depression in males.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275559]

Material Examined.

Holotype, female: MALAYSIA: Sabah St., Borneo Isl., Kinabalu National Park, VIII-1999, malaise trap, D. Quicke, OSUC 369067 (deposited in BMNH). Paratypes: (18 females, 40 males) INDONESIA: 4 females, 14 males, OSUC 368945 (CNCI); OSUC 228724, 247934, 247943, 251425, 257031, 257083 (MBBJ); OSUC 240926 (OSUC); OSUC 228715, 228720, 228723, 228736, 247828, 247830, 247844, 247939, 247941, ROMEnt Spec. No. 112253 (ROME). LAOS: 1 female, 3 males, OSUC 368876, 368886, 368891, 368909 (CNCI). MALAYSIA: 2 females, 1 male, OSUC 369027 (CNCI); OSUC 448588-448589 (WINC). NEPAL: 3 males, OSUC 369168, 369170, 369175 (CNCI). THAILAND: 11 females, 21 males, OSUC 335862 (BMNH); OSUC 368615, 368650, 368687, 368698-368701, 368705, 368712, 368714-368715, 368729, 368746-368747 (CNCI); OSUC 319481, 335856, 336122, 352481, 352917, 361220, 361954, 368547 (OSUC); OSUC 257384, 320402, 335229, 335829, 336160, 336162, 368546, 404913 (QSBG); UCRC ENT 135264 (UCRC).

Comments.

The vertical elevation between the antennal foramen and eye in Oxyscelio mesiodentis and similar species bears a granulate patch. Some males from Borneo and Laos were intermediate in these features, but could not be associated with females. These were left unassigned to species until corresponding females can be found. While Oxyscelio mesiodentis and Oxyscelio brevidentis may represent variant forms of the same species, the differences in metatarsomere length indicate that they are kept separate pending new information.