Oxyscelio ogive 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 : 185-187

Oxyscelio ogive Burks sp. n. Figures 355-358Morphbank96

Description.

Female. Body length 3.2-3.7 mm (n=12).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: longer than 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 3-5 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; rugose. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: present. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by rugae. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: present as a weak elevation. Area between vertex and occipital carina: with transverse carinae. Occipital carina medially: divided into concave halves, meeting at median peak. Lateral corners of occipital carina: sharp and 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. 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: 3. 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: 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: median carina present. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: absent. Fore wing apex: reaching apex of T4; reaching middle of T5; reaching apex of T5.

T1 midlobe: with 4 longitudinal carinae; with 5 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. Unknown.

Diagnosis.

Female: A4, A5 broader than long. Submedian carina with a sharp median peak. Occipital carina complete as a distinct carina, but medial portions concave and meeting at a peak. Mesoscutellum granulate laterally. Metascutellum tiny, dorsally concave. Fore wings not long enough to reach beyond T5. T1 midlobe with 4 or 5 longitudinal carinae. T6 rounded apically.

Etymology.

French noun describing the tapered end of an object or arch. Refers to the similarity between the pointed arch formed by the submedian carina and an ogival arch in Gothic architecture.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275519]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: THAILAND: Uthai Thani Prov., Khao Nang Rum Wildlife Research Station, 400m, V-1986, malaise trap, M. G. Allen, OSUC 368774 (deposited in CNCI). Paratypes: (12 females) INDONESIA: 1 female, OSUC 369262 (CNCI). THAILAND: 10 females, OSUC 335560 (BMNH); OSUC 368684, 368726 (CNCI); OSUC 361926-361927, 368499 (OSUC); OSUC 252044, 335561, 368534 (QSBG); UCRC ENT 135265 (UCRC). VIETNAM: 1 female, OSUC 369126 (CNCI).

Comments.

Oxyscelio ogive is similar to several different small-bodied species of Oxyscelio without a sharp hyperoccipital carina. The ogival arch formed by the submedian carina, and the shape and distinctness of the occipital carina, can help distinguish it. It exhibits an unusual range of surface sculpture variation, including flattened and granulate T1 midlobe carinae in some specimens. This variation was not considered sufficient to justify splitting these into separate species.