Oxyscelio brevidentis 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 I: Indo-Malayan and Palearctic fauna, ZooKeys 292, pp. 1-263 : 48-51

Oxyscelio brevidentis Burks sp. n. Figures 56-61Morphbank35

Description.

Female. Body length 2.7-3.75 mm (n=18).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: broader than long. 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: without transverse or oblique carinae below submedian carina. 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: hood-like, protruding over pedicel when antenna at rest. 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: umbilicate-foveate; rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent. 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: irregularly rugose. Occipital carina medially: uniformly rounded. Lateral corners of occipital carina: sharp and protruding.

Lateral pronotal area: without bulge projecting towards anterior pit. Epomial corner: weak. Netrion surface anteriorly: not inflexed. Mesoscutum anteriorly: not 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. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: absent. 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; 4. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: more than 5. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: foveate. 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. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: 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 T6; reaching beyond T6. 1st metatarsomere less than 1.1x as long as metatarsomeres 2-5 combined.

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 2.7-3.25 mm (n=18). A5 tyloid: carina-like, not expanded. A11: broader than long; as long as broad. Median tooth of frontal depression: present. Median lobe of T1: with 4 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Face with vertical 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. Lateral propodeal carinae strongly diverging. Female: A4, A5 broader than long. T1 with 4 longitudinal carinae. Male: A5 tyloid expanded. Frontal depression with tooth-like median protrusion dorsally. T1 midlobe with 3 longitudinal carinae. T7 without distinct posterolateral corners. Oxyscelio brevidentis and Oxyscelio mesiodentis are very similar, but differ mainly in the lateral propodeal carinae and size-related features, with metatarsomere length being the best diagnostic feature.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning "short tooth."

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275563]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: THAILAND: Ubon Ratchathani Prov., Rong Khi Noi (Rong Hi Noy), T1476, Pha Tam National Park, 15°40.021'N, 105°30.448'E, 240m, 1.I-7.I.2007, malaise trap, Thongkam & Pakdee, OSUC 285222 (deposited in QSBG). Paratypes: THAILAND: 20 females, 22 males, OSUC 247882, 247908 (BMNH); OSUC 317879, 320406, 368721, 368764, 464019, 464024, 464026, 464045, 464059-464060 (CNCI); OSUC 247598, 247899, 247909, 247921, 257385, 285228, 335631 (OSUC); OSUC 247649, 257401, 317861, 317869, 317873, 320384, 322083, 335547, 335986, 352453, 352455, 352487, 361186, 361200-361204, 361206, 361960 (QSBG); OSUC 247910, 285227, 320393 (WINC).

Comments.

The strong similarity between Oxyscelio brevidentis and Oxyscelio mesiodentis may indicate that they are really one species attacking a wide variety of hosts, but it seems best to verify this possibility before combining these two species.