Oxyscelio lunae Burks

Burks, Roger A., Masner, Lubomir, Johnson, Norman F. & Austin, Andrew D., 2016, Systematics of the parasitic wasp genus Oxyscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae s. l.), part III: African fauna, ZooKeys 565, pp. 29-71 : 51-52

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Platygastridae

Oxyscelio lunae Burks sp. n. Figures 46-51; Morphbank 22

Description.

Female. Body length 3.5-3.7 mm (n = 8).

Radicle color: same as scape. A4: longer than broad. A5: broader than long. Upper frons: not hood-like. Frontal depression sculpture: with 3 or more broadly interrupted transverse carinae. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: rugose; umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate. Hyperoccipital carina: complete as a sharp carina. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: present, complete. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: present as a distinct carina. Area between vertex and occipital carina: umbilicate-foveate; rugose; umbilicate-punctate. Occipital carina medially: sinuate with a more strongly arched median portion. Lateral corners of occipital carina: sharp and protruding corners present.

Mesoscutum anteriorly: not steep. Mesoscutal median carina: present and complete. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent; granulate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: granulate. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: 4 or more. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Setae along anterior limit of femoral depression: arising from rows of foveae. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture centrally: smooth. Metascutellar apex: convex or straight. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Lateral propodeal carinae antero-medially: weakly diverging. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: one or more areoles present. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching middle of T6. Hind wing vein (Sc+R): not interrupted.

Carinae between T1 midlobe and T1 lateral carina: absent. T1 midlobe: with 6 or more longitudinal carinae. T1: without anterior bulge. T6: broader than long; as long as broad. Metasomal apex: rounded; tapering to a sharp point. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male. Body length 3.4-3.65 mm (n = 20). A5 tyloid: carina-like, not expanded. A11: longer than broad. T1 midlobe: with 4 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Hyperoccipital carina present and sharp, connected to occipital carina by lateral carina; median carina present between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae. Gena with granulate sculpture posteroventrally but not anteroventrally. Mesoscutellum with granulate sculpture laterally. Metasomal depression not setose, without median carina; lateral propodeal carinae weakly diverging. Hind wing Sc+R vein complete. Female: A4 longer than broad.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “moon.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=309299]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: CAMEROON: Nkoemvom, VIII– 1980, malaise trap, D. Jackson, OSUC369365 (deposited in BMNH). Paratypes: (23 females, 57 males) CAMEROON: 15 males, OSUC369340, 369342-369346, 369360 (CNCI), OSUC369341, 369347-369352, 369359 (BMNH). CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: 20 females, 27 males, OSUC369391, 223802, 242799, 282894, 282896, 320854, 369393 (CNCI); OSUC176083, 218855, 233095-233096, 320840-320841, 320845, 320847, 320849-320853, 320855, 369385, 369394 (OSUC); OSUC176091, 218850, 223639, 223801, 225982-225985, 251694-251698, 267415-267417, 282879, 282895, 317893, 320838, 320842-320844, 320846, 320848 (SAMC). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: 6 males, OSUC369335-369339 (CNCI); OSUC268178 (USNM). GHANA: 4 males, OSUC369386-369387 (CNCI); OSUC435286 (OSUC). GUINEA: 1 female, 5 males, OSUC369400-369401, 369404, 369406, 369408-369409 (CNCI). SIERRA LEONE: 1 female, OSUC462603 (MZLU). TOGO: 1 female, OSUC320828 (BMNH).

Comments.

Oxyscelio lunae is by far the most commonly collected species of its genus from Africa, although nearly all known specimens are male. It is very similar to Oxyscelio pulveris , but after extensive comparison of the two series we concluded that they are different species. The chief difference is the considerably more granulate sculpture of Oxyscelio pulveris , which occurs in conjunction with lower and more rounded (therefore, less sharp and less distinctive) carinae, especially the hyperoccipital and mesoscutellar disc carinae. These features are accompanied by some more vague and less easily described differences in eye shape, mesosomal and metasomal sclerite shape, and metasomal sculpture.