Oxyscelio caesitas 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 : 53-55

Oxyscelio caesitas Burks sp. n. Figures 64-69Morphbank37

Description.

Female. Body length 4.6-4.85 mm (n=2).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: longer than broad. A5: longer than broad; as long as 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: 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: with radiating striae. Smooth strip along posterior side of malar sulcus: present, broad throughout its length. Middle genal carina: absent. Direction of middle genal carina dorsally: absent (replace with question mark). Major sculpture of gena anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: absent; 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: absent. 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: 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: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: absent. Mesoscutellar apex: roundly concave. Setae along anterior limit of femoral depression: arising from tiny pits. 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: flat. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: with scattered rugae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched; straight, unbranched carina present. 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: absent. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching middle of T4; reaching apex of T4.

T1 midlobe: obscured by other raised sculpture. T1: with long anterior bulge, reaching metascutellum. T2: with strong set of curved striae. 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 4.3-4.35 mm (n=3). 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: Mesoscutellum without granulate areas. Metascutellum nearly square, rugose. Female: T1 with a strong anterior horn. T2 and T3 with long, approximated curved striate that for much of their length are not separated by setal pits. Fore wings long enough to reach middle or nearly to apex of T4. Male: A11 longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 6 or more longitudinal carinae. T7 with sharp, protruding posterolateral corners.

Etymology.

Latin noun in apposition, meaning “blueness.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=305770]

Material Examined. Holotype, female: CHRISTMAS ISLAND: East-West Park Track, 10°30'S, 105°35'E, 13. IV– 28.IV.1989, malaise trap, J. C. Cardale, ANIC DB 32 -021000 (deposited in ANIC). Paratypes: CHRISTMAS ISLAND: 1 female, 3 males, OSUC 442266-442269 (ANIC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio caesitas is the only known species of Oxyscelio with any metallic blue luster. It is also the only member of the striarum-group in which males are definitively known. These male specimens do not exhibit the distinctive curved T2 and T3 striae found in females.