Oxyscelio mirellus (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 : 125-128

Oxyscelio mirellus (Dodd) Figures 187-192; Morphbank64

Sceliomorpha mirella Dodd, 1920: 349 (original description); Masner 1965: 96 (type information).

Oxyscelio mirellus (Dodd): Dodd 1931: 76 (generic transfer); Galloway 1976: 99 (type information); Masner 1976: 24 (description).

Description.

Female. Body length 4.2-4.55 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. Median longitudinal carina in frontal depression: absent. Ventral portion of frontal depression: with medially interrupted transverse carinae. Dorsal portion of frontal depression: without transverse carinae. Submedian carina: present. Frontal depression dorsally: hood-like, dorsally protruding. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: absent. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: broadly angular, with rounded median peak. 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; rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: with shallow irregular carinae, without microsculpture. 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 mid lobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. 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. 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: absent, but marginal vein curving slightly at apex. Fore wing apex at rest: not reaching base of T5. Coxae color brightness: darker than femora.

T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 4. 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 as slightly protruding sharp corners. 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: umbilicate punctate; longitudinally striate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: with medially truncate emargination, separated from apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: present, very broadly rounded but with sharp 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. Body length 3-3.9 mm (n=20). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: broader than long. A11: as long as 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 apex of T5. T1 midlobe longitudinal carinae: 4. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: present as slightly protruding sharp corners. T6 metasomal flanges: present as slightly protruding acuminate flanges. T7: broadly and deeply emarginate, with rounded posterolateral margins.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression deep, all carinae except dorsal separator interrupted medially, no carinae present above dorsal separator; submedian carina sharp. Hyperoccipital carina absent. Occipital carina complete, medially weakly convex or forming a vague median peak. Mesoscutellar rim not expanded, without median notch. Metascutellum scoop-like, projecting dorsally. Coxa darker than rest of leg. Postmarginal vein absent. Female: A3 not longer than pedicel. A4, A5, A6 broader than long. T4 with tiny metasomal flanges; T5, T6 with broad, flat metasomal flanges. T6 apically broadly and deeply emarginate, truncate medially. S6 exposed to dorsal view, truncate apically. Male: A3 longer than broad. A4, A11 broader than long. Mes oscutellum and mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly with broad foveae, not smooth medially. T5, T6 with sharp metasomal flanges. T7 with rounded postero-lateral lobes, broadly emarginate medially.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=5028]

Associations.

On flower of mallee: [ Myrtales : Myrtaceae ]

Material examined.

Holotype, female, S. mirella: AUSTRALIA: WA, Yallingup, 1.XII-12.XII.1913, R. E. Turner, B.M. TYPE HYM. 9.511 (deposited in BMNH). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 1 female, 4 males, OSUC 435935 (ANIC); OSUC 462562, 462750-462752 (BMNH). Other material: AUSTRALIA: 6 females, 33 males, OSUC 462748 (ANIC); OSUC 449030-449031, 449037-449044, 449049-449055, 449058-449062 (BMNH); OSUC 462746-462747 (CNCI); OSUC 435936 (QDPC); OSUC 449045-449048, 449057 (UQIC); WAM Ent. Reg No. 70285 (WAMP); OSUC 449032-449036, 449056, 462749 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio mirellus is distinctive in having a very broadly and deeply emarginate T6 with broad metasomal flanges, in combination with short flagellomeres in both sexes. South Australian specimens are slightly smaller than those from Western Australia, but otherwise seemed conspecific.