Oxyscelio spinae 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 : 209-211

Oxyscelio spinae Burks sp. n. Figures 399-403Morphbank106

Description.

Female. Body length 4-4.1 mm (n=2).

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: absent. Frontal depression: concave. Frontal depression sculpture: with 3 or more broadly interrupted transverse carinae. Submedian carina: strong, formed by a sharp raised carina. 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: with oblique tooth-like flange (facial nubbin). Malar area at mouth corner: with radiating striae. Smooth strip along posterior side of malar sulcus: absent or not consistently broad. Middle genal carina: absent. Direction of middle genal carina dorsally: absent (replace with question mark). Major sculpture of gena anteriorly: rugose; umbilicate-punctate. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: rugose; umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: granulate. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: complete, continuous with anterior genal carina. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: present as a distinct carina. Area between vertex and occipital carina: irregularly rugose. Occipital carina medially: divided into concave halves, meeting at median peak. 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. Microsculp ture of mesoscutellum laterally: absent. Mesoscutellar apex: convex or straight. 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: 3-5. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: smooth or with transverse carinae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellar apex: deeply emarginate. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae anteromedially: strongly diverging. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: one or more areoles present. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: median carina present. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching apex of T6.

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: exposed apically. Metasomal apex: tapering to a sharp point. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate; longitudinally striate or rugose. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male. Body length 3.75-3.9 mm (n=5). 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 no distinct corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Face with oblique expanded flange between antennal foramen and eye. Hyperoccipital carina present, continuous with an anterior genal carina, connected with occipital carina by a distinct longitudinal carina. Metascutellum slightly emarginate, posterior corners rounded and lobe-like. Female: T1 midlobe with 6 or more longitudinal carinae. Metasoma with a greatly elongate spine-like apex. Male: A11 longer than broad. T7 with weakly rounded lobes posterolaterally.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “spine.” Refers to the elongate and sharply pointed metasomal apex in females.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275505]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: THAILAND: Nakhon Si Thammarat Prov., road to Mhen Mt., 150m from Nern 499, T3100, Namtok Yong National Park, 08°16.959'N, 99°39.149'E, 499m, 6.VIII-13.VIII.2008, malaise trap, S. Samnaokan, OSUC 361212 (deposited in QSBG). Paratypes:(2 females, 5 males) THAILAND: 1 female, 5 males, OSUC 368752, 368754 (CNCI); OSUC 335117, 336123 (OSUC); OSUC 352922, 361357 (QSBG). VIETNAM: 1 female, OSUC 119929 (OSUC).

Comments.

Females of Oxyscelio spinae are very distinctive in having a very long, sharply pointed metasomal apex, including S6 and the apical rim of T6. This species is similar to Oxyscelio crateris in some characters of the occiput and metascutellum, and may be closely related to it.