Oxyscelio cordis 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 : 77-80

Oxyscelio cordis Burks sp. n. Figures 122-125Morphbank47

Description.

Female. Body length 4.5 mm (n=1).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: longer than broad. A5: longer than broad. 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: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: umbilicate-punctate. 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 distinct carina. Area between vertex and occipital carina: umbilicate-foveate. 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: 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: granulate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: absent. Mesoscutellar apex: incised. 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: absent. Metascutellar apex: convex or straight. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. 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: meeting for only a short distance medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching middle of T6.

T1 midlobe: with 6 or more longitudinal carinae. T1: without anterior bulge. T2: with straight longitudinal striae or rugae. T6: longer than broad. Apical flange of T6: not exposed apically. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate; longitudinally striate or rugose. Microsculpture of T6: granulate.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis.

Female: A4, A5 longer than broad. Frons without flange between antennal foramen and eye. Hyperoccipital carina present, continuous with an ante rior genal carina, connected with occipital carina by a distinct longitudinal carina. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe with 6 or more longitudinal carinae. T6 strongly narrowed by not sharply pointed. The overall body shape recalls Oxyscelio crateris , which otherwise differs in having granulate mesoscutellar sculpture.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “heart.” Refers to mesoscutellar shape.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275553]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: THAILAND: Nan Prov., office 9, T3239, Doi Phu Kha National Park, 19°12.252'N, 101°04.697'E, 1350m, 1. X– 8.X.2007, malaise trap, Charoen & Nikom, OSUC 368750 (deposited in QSBG).

Comments.

Oxyscelio cordis is very unusual in having a posteriorly incised mesoscutellum, a feature that is otherwise found in some Australian species.