Oxyscelio liminis 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 : 112-114

Oxyscelio liminis Burks sp. n. Figures 165-168; Morphbank59

Description.

Female. Body length 3.75-5.65 mm (n=20).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel; as long as pedicel. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long.

Ventral clypeal margin: uniformly convex. 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: with transverse carinae. Dorsal portion of frontal depression: without transverse carinae. Submedian carina: present. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: absent. 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: absent. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate foveate; rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: with a series of arched carinae, posterodorsal corner with weak longitudinal rugae. 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: with large smooth areas. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent; punctate. Median mesoscutal carina: present as a ruga. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: punctate. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally and ventrally. Metascutellum shape: not emarginate, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: not reaching base of T5. 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: 6. 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: present. T4 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T4 metasomal flanges: present and strongly protruding. T5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T5 metasomal flanges: present as strongly protruding acuminate flanges. T6: broader than long. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate punctate; longitudinally striate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: with deep emargination that is V-shaped medially, separated from apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: present, very broadly rounded, with rounded apices. 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: present. S6 peripheral carina: present, posteriorly complete. S6 apex in relation to T6: exposed to dorsal view by T6 emargination. S6 apex: truncate.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression deep, all carinae complete medially; no carinae present above dorsal separator, submedian carina sharp. Hyperoccipital carina absent. Occipital carina complete, medially weakly convex. Mesoscutellar rim not expanded, but sometimes rugose, without median notch. Metascutellum scoop-like, projecting dorsally. Coxa same color as rest of leg. Postmarginal vein absent. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4, A5, A6 broader than long. T4, T5, with sharp metasomal flanges. T6 with flat, expanded lateral margins. T6 apically shallowly emarginate, with a short incision medially. S6 exposed to dorsal view, truncate apically. Oxyscelio liminis is very similar to Oxyscelio limbi , but differs in having smaller, less rounded T6 metasomal flanges and a very shallowly and weakly emarginate T6. The mesoscutellar rim in Oxyscelio liminis is not expanded as in Oxyscelio limbi , but can have strong sculpture.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “apex.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307087]

Associations.

On flowering Eucalyptus L’Hér.: [ Myrtales : Myrtaceae ]; collected on Eucalyptus populnea F. Muell.: [ Myrtales : Myrtaceae ]; collected on Eucalyptus redunca Schauer: [ Myrtales : Myrtaceae ]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: WA, Carnarvon Shire, Gascoyne Research Station, 3. X– 7.X.1969, H. E. Evans & R. W. Matthews, OSUC 376712 (deposited in MCZC). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 66 females, OSUC 436006, 436010, 436041-436048, 436050, 436053, 437855, 437858-437859 (ANIC); OSUC 462738-462745 (CNCI); OSUC 376684, 376704-376705, 376707, 376710-376711, 376713-376715, 376722, 376733-376734 (MCZC); OSUC 436040 (MVMA); OSUC 148486 (QMBA); OSUC 448603 (QPIM); OSUC 148613-148614, 148616 (SAMA); OSUC 436039 (UQIC); OSUC 436038, 436049, 436051-436052, 437856, 449063-449080, 453990 (WINC).