Oxyscelio livens 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 : 119-122

Oxyscelio livens Burks sp. n. Figures 177-182; Morphbank62

Description.

Female. Body length 2.6-3.2 mm (n=20).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter than pedicel. A4: broader than long. 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: smooth. Dorsal portion of frontal depression: without transverse carinae. Submedian carina: absent; present only as a weak shift in elevation. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: omicron-shaped, with sharp corners where median portion meets lateral portions. Occiput sculpture: transversely rugose. 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; absent. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: densely covered with setiferous puncta. 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. Mesoscutal midlobe sculpture at midlength: not different from nearby sculpture. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Medi an mesoscutal carina: present as a vague, occasionally interrupted elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: punctate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: punctate. Mesoscutellar rim: expanded. Mesoscutellar rim medially: without notch. Mesofemoral depression: longitudinally striate dorsally, smooth ventrally. Metascutellum shape: slightly emarginate posteriorly, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. Postmarginal vein: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: exceeding metasomal apex. Coxae color brightness: same color as femora. Spines along tibiae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae: broadly separated, but parallel for a short distance anteriorly. Setae in metasomal depression: absent. Anterior sculpture of metasomal depression: absent. Median propodeal carina: absent.

T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 4. T1 lateral carina: protruding laterally, visible from ventral view. 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: present as slightly protruding sharp corners. T5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T5 metasomal flanges: present as slightly protruding sharp corners. T6: broader than long. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: with broad emargination between protruding posterolateral corners, separated from apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: present as spine-like structures posterolaterally. 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. Body length 2.6-3.55 mm (n=20). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: broader than long. A11: longer than broad. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent; granulate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: absent. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: absent. Fore wing apex at rest: exceeding metasomal apex. T1 midlobe longitudinal carinae: 4. T3 metasomal flanges: absent. T4 metasomal flanges: absent. T5 metasomal flanges: absent. T6 metasomal flanges: present as sharp corners that do not protrude. T7: with a pair of sharply defined spine-like posterolateral projections.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum blue or green. Frontal depression shallow, transverse carinae absent; submedian carina absent or incomplete. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by strong rugae. Occipital carina complete, sinuate medially. Metascutellum deeply concave, emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Female: A3 not longer than pedicel. A4, A5 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. T6 with narrow, sharp, subapical cornicle-like metasomal flanges. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T6 or beyond metasomal apex. Main body of T6 not abruptly separated from apical rim. Male: A3 longer than pedicel. Most flagellomeres between A4 and A12 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to exceed metasomal apex. T7 with elongate spine-like posterior projections.

Etymology.

Latin participle, not changing with gender, meaning “envying.” Derived from the Latin word for blueness.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307089]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: N QLD, Red Road turnoff, rainforest, Tully Falls Road, 750m, 8. XII– 5.I.1990, pitfall trap, Monteith, Thompson & Janetzki, OSUC 148485 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 24 females, 65 males, ANIC DB 32-020086, 32-020087, OSUC 439592, OSUC 439600, OSUC 439601, OSUC 439602, OSUC 439603, OSUC 439604, OSUC 439605, OSUC 439606, OSUC 439607, OSUC 439608, OSUC 439609, OSUC 439610, OSUC 439612, OSUC 439614, OSUC 439652, OSUC 439654 (ANIC); OSUC 451351-451352 (BMNH); OSUC 227565, 227621, 227626, 227635, 462755-462759 (CNCI); OSUC 439591, 439613, QDPC 0-165648, QDPC 0-165676, QDPC 0-165684, QDPC 0-165699, QDPC 0-165705, QDPC 0-165760, QDPC 0-165774 (QDPC); OSUC 148372, 148376, 439596-439599, 439611 (QMBA); OSUC 451348, 451350 (UQIC); OSUC 439593-439595, 439615-439638, 439640-439651, 439653, 451347, 451349 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio livens is a distinctive species because of the unusual spine-like subapical metasomal flanges of the females, and because of its usually metallic blue or green coloration. A few paratype females are shiny black instead of metallic, and some of these have slightly smaller T6 metasomal flanges than in other specimens. This species appears similar to some other small-bodied species such as Oxyscelio nitoris and Oxyscelio palati , which lack the T6 metasomal flanges.