Oxyscelio clivi 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 : 45-47

Oxyscelio clivi Burks sp. n. Figures 43-46; Morphbank35

Description.

Female. Body length 3.3-4.75 mm (n=20).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: at least partially darker than scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long.

Ventral clypeal margin: uniformly convex. 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: with medially interrupted transverse carinae. Dorsal portion of frontal depression: without transverse carinae. Submedian carina: present. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: broadly angular, with rounded median peak. Occiput sculpture: irregularly sculptured. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, complete. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate foveate; rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent; granulate.

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: umbilicate foveate. Mesoscutal midlobe sculpture at midlength: not different from nearby sculpture. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: present as a ruga. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: punctate. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally, smooth ventrally. Metascutellum shape: slightly emarginate posteriorly, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching base of T5. Coxae color brightness: same color as femora. Spines along tibiae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae: broadly separated, not parallel 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: present as slightly protruding sharp corners. T5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T5 metasomal flanges: present as strongly protruding acuminate flanges. T6: broader than long. Major sculpture of T6: longitudinally striate; umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: with a median projection set off by an abrupt narrowing posterior to tiny metasomal flanges, not separated from apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: present subapically. T6 raised peripheral rim: absent. S4 sculp ture: longitudinally striate or rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. S5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. S5 median carina: present. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. unknown.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression deep and broad, carinae not present above dorsal separator; submedian carina distinct, sharp. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by vague rugae. Occipital carina complete, medially weakly convex. Metascutellum concave dorsally, weakly emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Coxa color variable. Postmarginal vein absent. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4, A5 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 5 longitudinal carinae or obscured by raised sculpture. T4 with or without small metasomal flanges, T5 with metasomal flanges, not otherwise abruptly narrower than preceding tergum. Main body of T6 raised above apical rim, but sloping down to it medially, not abruptly separated from it. S6 not exposed to dorsal view.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “slope.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307067]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: SA, 79km NNW Renmark, Calperum Station, Bookmark Biosphere Reserve, 33°31'S, 140°24'E, 12.XII-25.I.1996, flight intercept trap/gutter trap, K. R. Pullen, OSUC 359627 (deposited in ANIC). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 61 females, OSUC 359639, 359642, 359648-359657, 359659, 359661-359666, 359668-359671, 437857, 448612-448615 (ANIC); OSUC 462732-462736 (CNCI); OSUC 218838-218839 (INHS); OSUC 359667 (MVMA); OSUC 359640-359641, 359658 (QDPC); OSUC 148357, 148379, 359660, QM Reg. No. T35147 (QMBA); OSUC 448611 (QPIM); OSUC 359638 (UQIC); OSUC 268194 (USNM); OSUC 359633-359637, 359644-359647, 436997, 449092-449093, 449101, 453940-453941 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio clivi may represent a complex of sibling species, but these would be separated only by problematic, overlapping features. Based on current information, it seems best to consider this to be one species with some variable features. There is some variation in the T6 metasomal flanges, which may be broad and semi-translucent or narrower and opaque. The narrow T4 metasomal flanges may be present or absent. Specimens with dark coxae and antennae were considered to be a melanistic form.