Oxyscelio chimaerae 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 : 66-68

Oxyscelio chimaerae Burks sp. n. Figures 100-103Morphbank43

Description.

Female. Body length 3.4 mm (n=1).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: longer than broad. A5: longer than broad. Antennal club: formed, segments compact.

Interantennal process: not elongate. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: present. Frontal depression: concave. Frontal depression sculpture: crossed by many tiny furrows. 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: absent or not consistently broad. Middle genal carina: present. Direction of middle genal carina dorsally: parallel to eye margin. Major sculpture of gena anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; rugose. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; rugose. 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: uniformly rounded. Lateral corners of occipital carina: not 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; irregularly rugose. 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: granulate. 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: 3. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: 3-5. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: smooth or with transverse carinae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. 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 T5.

T1 midlobe: obscured by other raised sculpture. T1: with small rounded anterior bulge, not reaching metascutellum. 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; longitudinally striate or rugose. Microsculpture of T6: granulate.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis.

Female: A4 longer than broad. Frontal depression crossed by many carinae that are interrupted medially. Submedian carina weak, not accompanied by extra carinae dorsally. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae; occipital carina without distinct lateral corners. Mesoscutellum with granulate sculpture. Mesofemoral depression crossed by few (not more than 5) carinae below speculum. Metascutellum subrectangular, smooth centrally. T1 midlobe with very strong anterior horn. T2 without sublateral depressions or curved striae. Fore wings long enough to reach middle of T5. T6 slightly longer than broad.

Etymology.

Latinized noun, genitive case. Refers to the mix of distinctive features in this species.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275551]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: MALAYSIA: Sabah St., rainforest edge, Danum Valley Protection Forest Reserve, 25. X– 11.XII.1986, malaise trap, P. J. Eggleton, OSUC 369320 (deposited in BMNH).

Comments.

Oxyscelio chimaerae exhibits an unusual mix of features that agree with the noduli-group; it is the only known member of that group from outside Sulawesi.