Oxyscelio sinuationis 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 : 200-203

Oxyscelio sinuationis Burks sp. n. Figures 331-334; Morphbank90

Description.

Female. Body length 2.75-3.65 mm (n=6).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both dark brown. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter than pedicel. A4: longer than broad. A5: broader than long.

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: with medially interrupted transverse carinae. 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: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: present. Occipital carina: omicron-shaped, with sharp corners where median portion meets lateral portions. Occiput sculpture: irregularly sculptured. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: absent. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: anteriorly smooth, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture, ventral corner with irregular carinae. 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: not steep, forming less than a right angle. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Mesoscutal midlobe sculpture at midlength: not different from nearby sculpture. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Median mesoscutal carina: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. 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: narrowly separated, angled anteriorly to become parallel. Setae in metasomal depression: absent. Anterior sculpture of metasomal depression: with median areole or pair of pits. Median propodeal carina: present.

T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 6. T1 lateral carina: straight. T2 sculpture: densely foveolate, longitudinal sculpture irregular. 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: absent. 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: absent. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. unknown.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression deep, transverse carinae very weak and interrupted; submedian carina strong. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina complete, laterally with strong corners and medially sinuate. Metascutellum exceedingly tiny, concave. Postmarginal vein present. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. Metasomal depression roughly sculptured. T1 lateral carina not expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female only: A4 longer than broad, A5 slightly broader than long. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe with 5 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of middle or apex of T6. T6 broader than long.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning "a curve."

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307109]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, GS2, Mount Edith, 17°06'S, 145°38'E, 1050m, 3. I– 4.II.1995, malaise trap, P. Zborowski, OSUC 368209 (deposited in ANIC). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 6 females, OSUC 449003 (BMNH); OSUC 462575 (CNCI); OSUC 449004 (UQIC); OSUC 368210-368211, 449002 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio sinuationis is among the species in the aciculae-group with a roughly sculptured metasomal depression and without a T1 horn. It can otherwise be recognized by its tall, sinuate occipital carina and tiny metascutellum.