Oxyscelio ceylonensis (Dodd) Figures 94-99Morphbank42

Sceliomorpha ceylonensis Dodd, 1920: 349 (original description); Masner 1965: 96 (type information).

Oxyscelio ceylonensis (Dodd): Dodd 1931: 75 (generic transfer); Masner 1976: 24 (description).

Description.

Female. Body length 2.9-3.65 mm (n=20).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: broader than long; as long as broad. A5: broader than long. Antennal club: formed, segments compact.

Interantennal process: not elongate. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Frontal depression: concave. Frontal depression sculpture: with 3 or more broadly interrupted transverse carinae. Submedian carina: strong, formed by a sharp raised carina. Submedian carina medially: without peak. Concavity across dorsal part of frontal depression: absent. Depression extending ventrally from median ocellus: absent. Upper frons: not hood-like. Malar area near antennal foramen: without carina or expansion. Malar area at mouth corner: with radiating striae. Smooth strip along posterior side of malar sulcus: absent or not consistently broad. Middle genal carina: present. Direction of middle genal carina dorsally: parallel to eye margin. Major sculpture of gena anteriorly: rugose; umbilicate-punctate. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: absent; umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: complete, continuous with anterior genal carina. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: absent. Area between vertex and occipital carina: with transverse carinae; irregularly rugose. Occipital carina medially: uniformly rounded; sinuate, concave medial to corners, but without a median peak. Lateral corners of occipital carina: not protruding.

Lateral pronotal area: without bulge projecting towards anterior pit. Epomial corner: strong. Netrion surface anteriorly: not inflexed. Mesoscutum anteriorly: steep. Mesoscutal median carina: present and complete. Longitudinal carina between median carina and notauli: absent. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: granulate. Mesoscutellar apex: convex or straight. Setae along anterior limit of femoral depression: arising from rows of foveae. Number of carinae crossing speculum above femoral depression: 3. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: more than 5. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: with scattered rugae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. Metascutellar setae: with many dorsal setae. Metascutellar apex: weakly emarginate. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae anteromedially: strongly diverging; weakly diverging. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: absent; one or more areoles present. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching apex of T5; reaching beyond T6; reaching middle of T6. T1 midlobe: with 4 longitudinal carinae. T1: without anterior bulge. T2: with straight longitudinal striae or rugae. T6: broader than long. Apical flange of T6: exposed apically. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate; longitudinally striate or rugose. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male. Body length 3.1-3.55 mm (n=8). A5 tyloid: expanded, teardrop-shaped or sinuate. A11: broader than long; as long as broad. Median tooth of frontal depression: absent. Median lobe of T1: with 3 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with no distinct corners.

Diagnosis .

Both sexes: Frons without elevation between antennal foramen and eye. Hyperoccipital carina present, continuous with anterior genal carina. Medial mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with many strong longitudinal rugae. Metascutellum with dorsal setae. Female: A4, A5 broader than long. T1 with 4 longitudinal carinae. Male: A5 tyloid expanded. Frontal depression without tooth-like median protrusion dorsally. T1 midlobe with 3 longitudinal carinae. T7 without distinct posterolateral corners. Oxyscelio ceylonensis is very similar to Oxyscelio unguis, but differs chiefly in the longitudinal rugae mentioned here.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=5010]

Material examined.

Holotype, female, Sceliomorpha ceylonensis: SRI LANKA: 67-25, no date, Thwaites, B.M. TYPE HYM. 9.509 (deposited in BMNH). Paratypes: SRI LANKA: 3 females, OSUC 376673-376675 (BMNH). Other material: (33 females, 10 males) CHINA: 1 female, OSUC 268209 (USNM). INDIA: 3 females, OSUC 376565-376566, 376577 (BMNH). MALAYSIA: 2 females, OSUC 376746, 376751 (MCZC). NEPAL: 18 females, 9 males, OSUC 369129-369138, 369140-369145, 369147, 369150-369157, 369159, 369174 (CNCI). SRI LANKA: 5 females, ANIC DB 32-020126 (ANIC); OSUC 442262 (BMNH); OSUC 369091 (CNCI); OSUC 268172, 268174 (USNM). THAILAND: 1 female, OSUC 247605 (OSUC). VIETNAM: 3 females, 1 male, OSUC 119941 (OSUC); OSUC 277390, 277411, 281583 (RMNH).

Comments.

The lateral propodeal carinae exhibit strong variation in Oxyscelio ceylonensis, being narrowly separated and subparallel in some specimens (especially those from Nepal) and strongly divergent in others. This variation did not prove consistent enough to serve as a convincing feature for species separation.