Oxyscelio croci 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 : 61-64

Oxyscelio croci Burks sp. n. Figures 71-76; Morphbank41

Description.

Female. Body length 2.9-3.55 mm (n=19).

Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: longer than broad. A5: longer than broad.

Ventral clypeal margin: concave. 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: smooth. 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; transversely rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: granulate. Hyperoccipital carina: present as a single carina. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: present laterally, absent medially. Occiput sculpture: transversely rugose. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, complete. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: granulate. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: irregularly sculptured. Posterior border of central pronotal area: directed posteriorly, epomial carina absent or meeting transverse pronotal carina at arch on lateral surface of pronotum. Mesoscutum anteriorly: very steep and tall, descending at a right angle or protruding anteriorly. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. 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 vague, occasionally interrupted elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally and ventrally. Metascutellum shape: slightly emarginate posteriorly, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching middle of T6. Coxae color brightness: same color as femora. Spines along tibiae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae: meeting near propodeal midlength. Setae in metasomal depression: absent. Anterior sculpture of metasomal depression: with series of longitudinal carinae extending to lateral propodeal carinae. Median propodeal carina: absent.

T 1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 5. T1 lateral carina: straight. 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: absent. T5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6: broader than long. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of T6: granulate. T6 medially: flat and tapering to a rounded apex, not separated from apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 raised peripheral rim: absent. S4 sculpture: 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. Body length 2.85-3.25 mm (n=20). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: longer than broad. A11: longer than broad. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: granulate. Fore wing apex at rest: exceeding metasomal apex. T1 midlobe longitudinal carinae: 3; 4. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. T7: truncate.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression nearly parallel-sided, transverse carinae complete but weakly indicated; submedian carina sharp or weak and irregular. Hyperoccipital carina sharp and strong. Occipital carina incomplete, lateral portions almost reaching hyperoccipital carina; occiput with many weak rugae and a row of strong setiferous puncta. Metascutellum with a concave postero-medial area, laterally with broad longitudinally striate area, weakly emarginate, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein present. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina not expanded laterally. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 longer than broad, A5 as long or longer than broad. Mesoscutellum densely and coarsely sculptured. T1 midlobe with 5 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach or exceed T6. Male: All flagellomeres longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 3 or 4 longitudinal carinae, hardly raised above sidelobes. Mesoscutellum with strong irregular rugae and some granulate sculpture. Fore wing long enough to reach beyond T7. T7 truncate, steeply sloping. Oxyscelio croci is very similar to Oxyscelio oculi , differing in having stronger sculpture in females and in having more irregular mesoscutellar sculpture in males. These species have overlapping distributions, and males can be difficult to distinguish.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “saffron.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307072]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, via Canungra, forest edge, O’Reilley’s Guest House, 3.II-2.III.1980, malaise trap, OSUC 442318 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 18 females, 23 males, OSUC 442321, 442340 (ANIC); OSUC 451285 (BMNH); OSUC 227541, 227610, 227628, 462567-462570 (CNCI); OSUC 442324, 442329, QDPC 0-165788 (QDPC); OSUC 442319 (QPIM); OSUC 442311-442317, 442320, 442323, 442325-442328, 442330-442339, 451284, 451286-451288 (WINC).