Oxyscelio angustifrons 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 : 31-34

Oxyscelio angustifrons Burks sp. n. Figures 22-25Morphbank28

Description.

Female. Body length 2.95-3.1 mm (n=2).

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: present. 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: 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: absent. 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: 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: 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: 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; 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: 4. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: more than 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: foveate or rugose. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae anteromedially: strongly 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 beyond T6.

T1 midlobe: with 6 or more 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. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male. Body length 2.95-3.35 mm (n=2). A5 tyloid: carina-like, not expanded. A11: broader than long. Median tooth of frontal depression: absent. Median lobe of T1: with 6 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frons without elevation between antennal foramen and eye. Hyperoccipital carina present, continuous with anterior genal carina. Metascutellum narrowing posteriorly and only very slightly emarginate apically, without dorsal setae. Propodeum without median carina; lateral propodeal carinae broadly separated anteriorly. Female: T1 midlobe with 6 longitudinal carinae. T6 rounded apically. Male: A11 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 6 longitudinal carinae. T7 with acuminate posterolateral corners. The posteriorly narrowing metascutellum and large number of T1 midlobe carinae can be used to easily distinguish this rarely collected species from other members of the cuculli-group.

Etymology.

Latin noun in apposition to the generic name, meaning "narrow frons." Refers to the very narrow upper frons.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275487]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: INDONESIA: Kalimantan Barat Prov., Cabang Panti Research Station, 1° rainforest / alluvial light gap, IIS 910122, Gunung Palung National Park, 01°15'S, 110°05'E, 100-400m, 15. VI– 15.VIII.1991, malaise trap, Darling & Rosichon, OSUC 247962 (deposited in MBBJ). Paratypes: (2 females, 2 males) BRUNEI: 1 female, OSUC 376627 (BMNH). INDONESIA: 1 female, 2 males, OSUC 464006 (CNCI); OSUC 257046 (MBBJ); OSUC 247847 (ROME).

Comments.

The gena in Oxyscelio angustifrons lacks any strong carina between the anterior one (continuous with the hyperoccipital carina) and the posterior genal carina. This state differs from that of most other species of Oxyscelio , but nearly all Oxyscelio have strong variation in the distinctness of carinae in this part of the gena.