Oxyscelio obsidiani 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 : 183-185

Oxyscelio obsidiani Burks sp. n. Figures 351-354Morphbank95

Description.

Female. Body length 5.6-6 mm (n=3).

Radicle color: darker than scape. Scape color: Brown. A4: longer than broad. A5: longer than broad. 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: weak, shallow and rounded or formed by ledge. Submedian carina medially: without peak. Concavity across dorsal part of frontal depression: absent. Depression extending ventrally from median ocellus: present. Upper frons: not hood-like. Malar area near antennal foramen: without carina or expansion. Malar area at mouth corner: with radiating striae. Smooth strip along posterior side of malar sulcus: absent or not consistently broad. Middle genal carina: absent. Direction of middle genal carina dorsally: absent (replace with question mark). Major sculpture of gena anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. 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: absent. Lateral corners of occipital carina: sharp and 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: absent or weak and incomplete in places. Longitudinal carina between median carina and notauli: absent. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: umbilicate-punctate. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: absent. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate; umbilicate-punctate. 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: 3-5. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Metascutel lum 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 T4.

T 1 midlobe: obscured by other raised sculpture. T1: with small rounded anterior bulge, not reaching metascutellum. 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; longitudinally striate or rugose. Microsculpture of T6: granulate.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis.

Female: Head and mesosoma nearly smooth, submedian carina hardly indicated. A4 longer than broad. Frons without flange between antennal foramen and eye. Mesoscutellum without median carina. Metascutellum tiny, smooth centrally. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T4. T1 midlobe with slight bulge obscuring longitudinal carinae. T6 longer than broad.

Etymology.

Latin, genitive case, referring to the similarity of the mesosoma to obsidian in color, smoothness, and gloss.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275501]

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 368930 (deposited in BMNH). Paratypes: INDONESIA: 2 females, OSUC 368923, 368939 (CNCI).

Comments.

Oxyscelio obsidiani is a distinctive species from Seram, exhibiting very weak sculpture as in some other species from that island. The elongate body, downward-directed face, and tiny metascutellum are shared by Oxyscelio cupularis and Oxyscelio flavipennis . Some or all of these species may form a monophyletic complex, but currently it would be defined by features that can only be vaguely communicated. An alternative placement would be in the ogive-group, but this would render that group difficult to clearly define.