Oxyscelio mollitia 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 : 168-171

Oxyscelio mollitia Burks sp. n. Figures 322-326Morphbank89

Description.

Female. Body length 3.8-4.4 mm (n=17).

Radicle color: darker than 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 3-5 complete 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: 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. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: rugose; umbilicate-punctate. 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: 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: granulate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: absent. 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: more than 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: smooth. 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: exposed apically. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate; longitudinally striate or rugose. Microsculpture of T6: granulate.

Male. Body length 4.3 mm (n=1). 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 acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Upper frons without additional carinae dorsal to submedian carina. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. Mesofemoral depression crossed by more than 3 carinae below speculum. Mesopleuron along anteroventral edge of femoral depression with rows of foveae. Female: Metas cutellum subrectangular, with scattered rugae. T1 midlobe with weak anterior bulge. T2 without sublateral depressions or curved striae. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T5. T6 longer than broad, tapering to a rounded apex. Male: Flagellomeres longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 5 longitudinal carinae. T7 with sharp, protruding posterolateral corners. Oxyscelio mollitia is similar to Oxyscelio florus , another Palearctic species. It differs in having one or more rows of foveae along the anterior limit of the femoral depression, a transversely carinate metascutellum, a usually shorter anterior horn on the T1 midlobe, and shorter metasoma in females (fore wing long enough to reach middle of T5).

Etymology.

Latin noun in apposition, meaning “flexibility.” Refers to the tendency of various body parts to buckle when specimens of this species are dried.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275526]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: JAPAN: Aichi Pref, Toyota City, Narai, 15.VII-22.VII.1990, pan trap, K. Yamagishi, OSUC 368975 (deposited in CNCI). Paratypes: (17 females, 1 male) JAPAN: 12 females, 1 male, OSUC 368964, 368966-368967, 368980, 368987, 368991, 368994, 368998-369000, 369007 (CNCI); OSUC 369001, 369008 (OSUC). SOUTH KOREA: 5 females, OSUC 369069-369073 (CNCI).

Comments.

The submedian carina in Oxyscelio mollitia is not accompanied by any additional carinae dorsal to it, but this part of the upper frons can have weak, transverse rugae with granulate sculpture between them.