Oxyscelio tecti 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 : 216-219

Oxyscelio tecti Burks sp. n. Figures 414-419Morphbank109

Description.

Female. Body length 4.45 mm (n=1).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Brown. 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: without transverse or oblique carinae below submedian carina. Submedian carina: weak, shallow and rounded or formed by ledge. 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: without 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: 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: absent. 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-punctate. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: punctate. 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: 3-5. Metascutellum dorsally: flat. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: with scattered rugae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched; straight, unbranched carina present. 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: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching middle of T5.

T1 midlobe: obscured by other raised sculpture. 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. Microsculpture of T6: granulate.

Male. Body length 4.15-4.2 mm (n=2). A5 tyloid: carina-like, not expanded. A11: longer than broad. Median tooth of frontal depression: absent. Median lobe of T1: with 5 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Medial mesoscutum (posteriorly) and mesoscutellum very weakly sculptured but without granulate areas, setae arising from tiny pits. Metascutellum slightly broadening posteriorly, with a weak median carina, nearly smooth lateral to carina. Female: A4 longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 6 or more longitudinal carinae. T6 longer than broad. Male: T7 with sharp, protruding posterolateral corners.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “roof.” Refers to the nearly smooth medial mesoscutum.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275550]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: INDONESIA: Maluku Prov., Ceram (Seram) Isl., forest, Solea, VIII-1987, malaise trap, M. C. Day, OSUC 368938 (depos ited in BMNH). Paratypes: INDONESIA: 2 males, OSUC 368940 (CNCI); OSUC 228709 (ROME).

Comments.

Oxyscelio tecti , as in other species from Seram, has very weak surface sculpture. This species is somewhat similar to the crateris-group, but may not be closely related to any Asian species.