Oxyscelio regionis 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 : 202-204

Oxyscelio regionis Burks sp. n. Figures 387-390Morphbank103

Description.

Female. Body length 3.6-3.75 mm (n=2).

Radicle color: darker than scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: broader than long; as long as broad. A5: broader than long. Antennal club: formed, segments compact.

Interantennal process: not elongate. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Frontal depression: concave. Frontal depression sculpture: with 3-5 complete 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: without striae. Smooth strip along posterior side of malar sulcus: present, broad throughout its length. 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: not indicated medially. 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: 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 be tween 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; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: absent. Mesoscutellar apex: roundly concave. 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: 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. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellar apex: convex or straight. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: foveate or rugose. 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.

T 1 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. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis.

Female: Upper frons one or more extra carinae dorsal to submedian carina. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. Mesofemoral depression crossed by more than 3 carinae below speculum. Metascutellum subrectangular, with scattered weak rugae. T1 midlobe with long anterior bulge. T2 without sublateral depressions or curved striae. T6 longer than broad, tapering to a rounded apex.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “boundary.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275514]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: THAILAND: Loei Prov., Koke Hin Ngam, T492, Phu Kradung National Park, 16°51.817'N, 101°50.704'E, 270m, 30.VIII-6.IX.2006, malaise trap, S. Khonglasae, OSUC 247898 (deposited in QSBG). Paratype: THAILAND: 1 female, OSUC 267523 (OSUC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio regionis is striking in that it is very small-bodied but with an elongate head and metasoma.