Oxyscelio spatulae 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 : 209-211

Oxyscelio spatulae Burks sp. n. Figures 347-350; Morphbank93

Description.

Female. Body length 4.2 mm (n=1).

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

Ventral clypeal margin: with slightly convex median lobe. 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: with medially interrupted transverse carinae. Submedian carina: present only as a weak shift in elevation. 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: absent. Occipital carina: present laterally, absent medially. Occiput sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: absent. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate foveate; rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: with shallow irregular carinae, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture. 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; transversely rugose. 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: present as a flattened or rounded elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: granulate. Mesoscutellar rim: not expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally, smooth ventrally. Metascutellum shape: not emarginate, forming a flat, concave shelf. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with a median carina ending in a broad granulate patch posteriorly. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching middle of T5. Coxae color brightness: same color as femora. Spines along tibiae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae: broadly separated, not parallel anteriorly. Setae in metasomal depression: unknown. Anterior sculpture of metasomal depression: unknown. Median propodeal carina: unknown.

T1 horn: present. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: obscured by other raised sculpture. 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: longer than broad. 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. unknown.

Diagnosis.

Female: A3 longer than pedicel. Submedian carina weakly indicated by a rounded carina. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae; occipital carina incomplete medially. Mesoscutellum with weak granulate sculpture. Metascutellum spatulate, with a median carina that ends in a broad granulate patch. T1 with moderate anterior horn. T2 without longitudinal foveae or dense striae. T6 longer than broad.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning "broad flat structure."

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275540]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: West New Britain Prov., New Britain Isl., primary forest edge, Cape Hoskins, 21.VI-27.VI.1973, malaise trap, Stibick, OSUC 368914 (deposited in CNCI).

Comments.

Oxyscelio spatulae is unusual in having a mildly spatulate metascutellum with a faint median carina that ends in a granulate area. It otherwise has few distinctive features, but is very different from Oxyscelio nasi , the other known species of Oxyscelio from New Britain.