Oxyscelio sciuri 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 : 188-191

Oxyscelio sciuri Burks sp. n. Figures 307-312; Morphbank86

Description.

Female. Body length 4.05-4.5 mm (n=6).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter than pedicel; as long as 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. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: broadly angular, with rounded median peak. Occiput sculpture: irregularly sculptured. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: absent. Gena length: as long as eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: rugose; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: rugose; umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent; granulate.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: with shallow irregular carinae, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture. 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; 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: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly 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: not emarginate, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching middle 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: obscured by other raised sculpture. 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; longitudinally striate. Microsculpture of T6: granulate. 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 3.8-3.95 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. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching apex of T5. T1 midlobe longitudinal carinae: 4. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T7: broadly emarginate, with sharply pointed posterolateral lobes.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression broad, transverse carinae absent; submedian carina strong. Gena greatly enlarged, about as long as the eye, strongly rugose. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina convex, forming a rounded peak medially. Metascutellum 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: A3 not longer than pedicel. A4 about as long as broad, A5 broader than long. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe carinae obscured by raised smooth area. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T5. Male: A4 broader than long, A11 slightly longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T6. T7 emarginate apically, with sharp posterior corners angled medially.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “squirrel.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307106]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, Mt. William, rainforest edge, Eungella National Park, 18.IV.1979, E Dahms, OSUC 368212 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 5 females, 3 males, OSUC 368208, 368213 (ANIC); OSUC 227564, 462576-462577 (CNCI); OSUC 448572, 451355 (QDPC); OSUC 368214 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio sciuri is the only known species in its genus with a greatly expanded gena. Otherwise, it exhibits features of the aciculae-group.