Oxyscelio caudarum 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 : 39-42

Oxyscelio caudarum Burks sp. n. Figures 33-36; Morphbank33

Description.

Female. Body length 2.8-3.1 mm (n=4).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter 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: smooth. Dorsal portion of frontal depression: without transverse carinae. Submedian carina: present only as a weak shift in elevation. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Upper frons microsculpture: granulate. Hyperoccipital carina: absent. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: broadly angular, with rounded median peak. Occiput sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, medially incomplete. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: with shallow irregular carinae, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture. Posterior border of central pronotal area: directed an teriorly, 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 midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: present as a vague, occasionally interrupted elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally, smooth ventrally. Metascutellum shape: slightly emarginate posteriorly, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching near apex 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: 5. 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: absent. T4 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. 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. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: with medially truncate emargination, sloping down to apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: present as spine-like structures posterolaterally. T6 raised peripheral rim: absent. S4 sculpture: densely setose, setal pits between very weak longitudinal rugae. S5 sculpture: densely setose, setal pits between very weak longitudinal rugae. S5 median carina: present. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: exposed to dorsal view by T6 emargination. S6 apex: truncate.

Male. unknown.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression shallow, without carinae ventrally, dorsal separator interrupted medially, weakly indicated carinae present above dorsal separator; submedian carina absent. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by vague rugae. Occipital carina complete, medially sinuate. Mesoscutellar rim not expanded, without median notch. Metascutellum small, weakly emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Coxa same color as rest of leg. Postmarginal vein absent. Female: A4, A5 broader than long. T4, T5 without distinct metasomal flanges, but T5 with sharp posterior corners. T6 abruptly narrower than T5, without expanded lateral margins but with narrow and sharp elongate posterior metasomal flanges. Main surface of T6 strongly emarginate medially, sloping down to apical rim. S6 exposed to dorsal view, rounded apically. It differs from Oxyscelio livens and similar species in that T6 is abruptly narrower than T5, which itself has sharp corners that may represent tiny metasomal flanges.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “tails.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307066]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, open forest, 3.4km S Port Douglas, 17.XI.1979, E. C. Dahms, J. B. Woolley & J. LaSalle, OSUC 437874 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 3 females, OSUC 437873, 437876 (ANIC); OSUC 437875 (WINC).