Oxyscelio pectinis 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 : 161-163

Oxyscelio pectinis Burks sp. n. Figures 253-256; Morphbank76

Description.

Female. Body length 3.2-3.3 mm (n=2).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter than pedicel. A4: as long as 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: with medially interrupted transverse foveae. 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; transversely rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: present as a single carina. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: present. Occipital carina: present laterally, absent medially. Occiput sculpture: irregularly sculptured. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: absent. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: rugose; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: rugose; umbilicate punctate. 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 posteriorly, epomial carina absent or meeting transverse pronotal carina at arch on lateral surface of pronotum. Mesoscutum anteriorly: not steep, forming less than a right angle. 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; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: present as a ruga. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: longitudinally rugose; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: longitudinally rugose; umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Mi crosculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally and ventrally. Metascutellum shape: slightly emarginate posteriorly, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: present. 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: present. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 5. T1 lateral carina: straight. 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 punctate. 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 span ning 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.

Frontal depression shallow, transverse carinae absent; submedian carina weak. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina connected to hyperoccipital carina by a weak longitudinal carina, laterally with strong corners and medially absent; area between occipital and hyperoccipital carinae densely sculptured and having many short setae. Mesoscutellum and mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly with strong longitudinal rugae. Metascutellum exceedingly tiny, concave. Postmarginal vein present. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. Metasomal depression smooth. T1 lateral carina not expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female only: A3 shorter than pedicel. A4 about as long as broad, A5 broader than long. T1 midlobe slight smooth area obscuring its longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T6. T6 slightly broader than long.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “comb.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307097]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, rainforest, Mount Glorious, 28.II.1984, sweeping, I. D. Galloway, OSUC 368207 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 2 females, QDPC 0-165773 (QDPC); OSUC 449001 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio pectinis is easily recognized by its very striking metascutellar sculpture. Other features reinforce its distinction from other members of the aciculae-group, but it is most similar to Oxyscelio divisionis .