Oxyscelio pollicis 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 : 163-166

Oxyscelio pollicis Burks sp. n. Figures 257-262; Morphbank77

Description.

Female. Body length 3.25-3.9 mm (n=14).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both dark brown. 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: 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; transversely rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: absent. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: uniformly rounded dorsally. Occiput sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: absent. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: 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 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. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: absent; present as a vague, occasionally interrupted elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. 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: 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: exceeding metasomal apex. 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: obscured by other raised sculpture. 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: 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: present. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. Body length 3.4-3.55 mm (n=3). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: broader than long. A11: longer than broad. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: exceeding metasomal apex. T1 midlobe longitudinal carinae: 4. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T7: weakly emarginate.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Body and limbs entirely dark brown. Frontal depression shallow and broad, transverse carinae absent or interrupted; submedian carina weak. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina complete, convex medially. Metascutellum subrectangular, deeply concave, emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 longer than broad; A5, A6 broader than long. T1 midlobe with a slight smooth bump obscuring anterior carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T5. T6 broader than long, rounded apically. Male: A3 longer than pedicel. most flagellomeres between A4 and A12 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal midlobe carinae. Fore wing long enough to exceed metasomal apex. T7 much broader than long, blunt apically, without posterior projections.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “thumb.” Refers to the shape of the fore wing venation.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307098]

Associations.

Under bark of Acacia Mill.: [ Fabales : Fabaceae ]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: ACT, Piccadilly Circus, 35°22'S, 148°48'E, 1240m, IV-1984, flight intercept trap/window trough trap, J. Lawrence, T. Weir & M.-L. Johnson, OSUC 439540 (deposited in ANIC). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 13 females, 17 males, OSUC 437015, 439541-439554, 445316-445325, 445327, 445329-445332 (ANIC). Other material: AUSTRALIA: 1 female, OSUC 437014 (ANIC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio pollicis is similar to some other species in the atricoxa-group, but it is also one of a set of melanistic species known from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Other melanistic species from this area include the concoloripes-group, and some additional melanistic species occur in Tasmania. It is unlikely that these melanistic species form a monophyletic group.