Oxyscelio stringerae 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 : 214-216

Oxyscelio stringerae Burks sp. n. Figures 355-358; Morphbank95

Description.

Female. Body length 3.25-3.9 mm (n=6).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long.

Ventral clypeal margin: concave. 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 carinae. 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: present. Occipital carina: omicron-shaped, with sharp corners where median portion meets lateral portions. Occiput sculpture: irregularly sculptured. 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 punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent; granulate.

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. 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. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally and 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 T6. Coxae color brightness: same color as femora. Spines along tibiae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae: narrowly separated, angled anteriorly to become parallel. Setae in metasomal depression: absent. Anterior sculpture of metasomal depression: with median areole or pair of pits. Median propodeal carina: present.

T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 4. T1 lateral carina: straight. T2 sculpture: densely foveolate, longitudinal sculpture irregular. T2 sublateral longitudinal foveae: absent. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 sculpture: densely foveate, longitudinal sculpture irregular. 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: 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. unknown.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression deep, transverse carinae absent; submedian carina strong. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina complete, laterally with strong corners and medially broadly sinuate. Metascutellum short, concave, rugose. Postmarginal vein present. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. Metasomal depression with a pair of submedian foveae. T1 lateral carina not expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female only: A4 about as long as broad, A5 broader than long. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach T6. T6 broader than long. Oxyscelio stringerae is similar to Oxyscelio sinuationis , but has a shorter and more broadly curved occipital carina, a broader metascutellum, only a pair of submedian foveae in the metasomal depression anteriorly, a slightly shorter flagellum, and 4 T1 midlobe carinae.

Etymology.

Named in honor of Danielle Stringer, for the large amount of excellent work that she contributed in packing and shipping specimens for this project.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307112]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, Mount Moffatt Section, Carnarvon National Park, creek bed, Peawaddy Gorge, 24°55'S, 148°04'E, 27.II.1996, Pyrethrum knockdown, G. Monteith, OSUC 148369 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 5 females, OSUC 368219-368220, 437010-437011, 448632 (WINC).