Oxyscelio sordes 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 II: the Australian and southwest Pacific fauna, ZooKeys 331, pp. 1-266 : 206-209

Oxyscelio sordes Burks sp. n. Figures 341-346; Morphbank92

Description.

Female. Body length 2.5-3.5 mm (n=20).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter than pedicel. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long.

Ventral clypeal margin: concave. Interantennal process: not elongate. Lower frons at dorsal margin of interantennal process: without transverse carina. Transverse curved rugae extending from frontal depression to eye: absent. Median longitudinal carina in frontal depression: absent. Ventral portion of frontal depression: smooth. Dorsal portion of frontal depression: without transverse carinae. Submedian carina: present. Frontal depression dorsally: hood-like, dorsally protruding. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: omicron-shaped, with sharp corners where median portion meets lateral portions. Occiput sculpture: transversely rugose. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: absent. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: anteriorly smooth, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture, ventral corner with irregular carinae. Posterior border of central pronotal area: directed anteriorly, protruding at corner of epomial carina and transverse pronotal carina. Mesoscutum anteriorly: very steep and tall, descending at a right angle or protruding anteriorly. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbili cate foveate. Mesoscutal midlobe sculpture at midlength: not different from nearby sculpture. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: present as a vague, occasionally interrupted elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent; umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent; punctate. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally, smooth ventrally. Metascutellum shape: deeply emarginate, with the resulting pair of posterior processes subtriangular and directed dorsally. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: exceeding metasomal apex. Coxae color brightness: same color as femora. Spines along tibiae: present. Lateral propodeal carinae: broadly separated, but parallel for a short distance anteriorly. Setae in metasomal depression: absent. Anterior sculpture of metasomal depression: absent. Median propodeal carina: absent.

T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 4. T1 lateral carina: protruding laterally, visible from ventral view. T2 sculpture: with longitudinal striae or rugae, setiferous puncta present between them. T2 sublateral longitudinal foveae: absent. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T5 metasomal flanges: present as slightly protruding sharp corners. T6: broader than long. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: with medially truncate emargination, sloping down to apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 raised peripheral rim: absent. S4 sculpture: longitudinally striate or rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. S5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. S5 median carina: absent. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. Body length 2.8-3.45 mm (n=16). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: broader than long. A11: broader than long; as long as broad. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: exceeding metasomal apex; reaching middle of T6. T1 midlobe longitudinal carinae: 4. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: present as sharp corners that do not protrude. T7: with a pair of sharply defined spine-like posterolateral projections.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum black. Frontal depression deep, transverse carinae absent; submedian carina strong and sharp. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by strong rugae. Occipital carina complete, sinuate medially. Metascutellum concave, nearly square, slightly emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. Tibiae with spines. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 shorter than pedicel. A4, A5 much broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. T6 without metasomal flanges, blunt or slightly concave apically. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T6 or exceed metasomal apex. Male: A4, A11 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to exceed metasomal apex. T7 with sharp, broad, flat posterior projections.

Etymology.

Latin noun in apposition, meaning "the dirty."

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307110]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, via Taroom, FIT 035, Boggomoss No. 8, 25°27'S, 150°02'E, 14-XI-1996 - I-1997, flight intercept trap, Cook & Monteith, OSUC 439667 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 25 females, 17 males, OSUC 436935, 439655-439661, 439675, 448599 (ANIC); OSUC 448935 (NMNH); OSUC 448939, QDPC 0-163072, QDPC 0-165628 (QDPC); OSUC 148361, 148472, 439662-439666, 439668-439672, 439676-439679 (QMBA); OSUC 448598 (QPIM); OSUC 448933 (UQIC); OSUC 439673, 448928-448932, 448934, 448936-448938 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio sordes is one of a few species of Oxyscelio with tibial spines. These may be difficult to see, as they are the same color as the tibia. It can also be recognized by the strong frontal depression, unusually sparse sculpture of females, and flattened T7 projections in males.