Oxyscelio genae 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 : 123-125

Oxyscelio genae Burks sp. n. Figures 229-234Morphbank70

Description.

Female. Body length 2.85-3.05 mm (n=2).

Radicle color: darker than 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: with 2 complete transverse carinae. Submedian carina: strong, formed by a sharp raised carina. Submedian carina medially: with sharp 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: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: absent; present. Hyperoccipital carina: complete, continuous with anterior genal carina. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: present as a weak elevation. Area between vertex and occipital carina: umbilicate-foveate. Occipital carina medially: uniformly rounded. 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. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. 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: 2. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: 3-5. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: smooth or with transverse carinae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellar apex: weakly emarginate. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae anteromedially: weakly diverging. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: absent. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching apex of T5.

T1 midlobe: with 5 longitudinal carinae. T1: without anterior bulge. T2: with straight longitudinal striae or rugae. T6: broader than long. Apical flange of T6: not exposed apically. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male. Body length 3-3.2 mm (n=4). A5 tyloid: carina-like, not expanded. A11: longer than broad; as long as broad. Median tooth of frontal depression: absent. Median lobe of T1: with 4 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Middle genal carina very strong, subparallel with eye margin. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by an occasionally interrupted carina, area between it and occipital carina with a weak median carina. Mesoscutellum with some granulate sculpture laterally. Metascutellum tiny, concave dorsally, smooth aside from some transverse carinae. Female: A4, A5 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 5 longitudinal carinae. T6 rounded apically. Male: A11 slightly longer than broad. Occiput with very strong sculpture. T1 midlobe with 3 longitudinal carinae. T7 with sharp and protruding posterolateral corners. Oxyscelio genae is distinct from other members of the crebritas-group in having an almost completely outlined occipital depression with a median carina. It can also be recognized by the rough occipital sculpture in males, the tiny metascutellum, and very strong middle genal carina.

Etymology.

Latin noun in genitive case, meaning “cheek.” Refers to the strong middle genal carina.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=305705]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: INDIA: Tamil Nadu St., Coimbatore, 25. IX– 1.X.1979, J. S. Noyes, OSUC 376570 (deposited in BMNH). Paratypes: (1 female, 4 males) INDIA: 1 female, 2 males, OSUC 376569, 376571 (BMNH); OSUC 382052 (OSUC). SRI LANKA: 2 males, OSUC 369089 (CNCI); OSUC 268100 (USNM).