Oxyscelio densitatis 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 : 66-69

Oxyscelio densitatis Burks sp. n. Figures 81-84; Morphbank43

Description.

Female. Body length 2.75-4 mm (n=20).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: longer than broad. 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: with medially interrupted 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: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: absent. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: weakly arched dorsally, with rounded lateral corners. Occiput sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, complete. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate foveate; rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: anteriorly smooth, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture, ventral corner with irregular carinae. 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 midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; longitudi nally rugose. 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: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent; punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally, smooth ventrally. Metascutellum shape: deeply emarginate, with the resulting pair of posterior processes subtriangular and directed dorsally. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching middle of T6. Coxae color brightness: darker than 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: obscured by other raised sculpture. T1 lateral carina: protruding laterally, visible from ventral view. T2 sculpture: densely foveolate, longitudinal sculpture irregular. 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: absent. T6: broader than long. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: flat and tapering to a rounded apex, not separated from apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. 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: absent. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression shallow, transverse carinae absent or broadly interrupted ventrally, with sometimes a few faint carinae dorsally; submedian carina absent medially. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by weak rugae. Occipital carina complete, weakly convex or omicron-shaped medially. Metascutellum deeply concave, truncate or weakly emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein absent. Coxa darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 longer than broad, A5 nearly as long as broad. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae or with raised sculpture obscuring them. T6 without metasomal flanges, main body of tergum sloping down to apical rim. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T5 or middle of T6. Oxyscelio densitatis is very similar to Oxyscelio nigricoxa and a few other species with dark coxae. It is larger-bodied than those species, and does not have a concave T6. Among larger-bodied species, it is similar to Oxyscelio atricoxa , but has an incomplete submedian carina and differently-shaped T6.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning "density, abundance." Refers to the abundance of mesoscutal midlobe foveae.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307074]

Associations.

Inhabits brigalow: [ Fabales : Fabaceae ]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, via Taroom, FIT 057, Boggomoss No. 30, 25°29'S, 150°08'E, 14-XI-1996 - I-1997, flight intercept trap, Cook & Monteith, QM Reg. No. T35158 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 36 females, ANIC DB 32-020090, 32-020094, 32-020095, OSUC 429972, OSUC 429976, OSUC 429980, OSUC 436978, OSUC 436980 (ANIC); OSUC 448944-448945 (BMNH); OSUC 227554 (CNCI); QDPC 0-165627, 0-165723, 0-165725 (QDPC); OSUC 148355, 148359, 148363, 429970, 429981, QM Reg. No. T35154, QM Reg. No. T35155, QM Reg. No. T35157 (QMBA); OSUC 429969, 429975 (UQIC); OSUC 429962-429968, 429971, 429973-429974, 429977-429979, 429982, 436979, 436981, 448940-448943 (WINC).