Oxyscelio ceylonensis (Dodd)

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 : 63-66

Oxyscelio ceylonensis (Dodd) Figures 94-99Morphbank42

Sceliomorpha ceylonensis Dodd, 1920: 349 (original description); Masner 1965: 96 (type information).

Oxyscelio ceylonensis (Dodd): Dodd 1931: 75 (generic transfer); Masner 1976: 24 (description).

Description.

Female. Body length 2.9-3.65 mm (n=20).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: broader than long; as long as broad. A5: broader than long. Antennal club: formed, segments compact.

Interantennal process: not elongate. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Frontal depression: concave. Frontal depression sculpture: with 3 or more broadly interrupted 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: rugose; umbilicate-punctate. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: absent; umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: complete, continuous with anterior genal carina. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: absent. Area between vertex and occipital carina: with transverse carinae; irregularly rugose. Occipital carina medially: uniformly rounded; sinuate, concave medial to corners, but without a median peak. Lateral corners of occipital carina: not protruding.

Lateral pronotal area: without bulge projecting towards anterior pit. Epomial corner: strong. Netrion surface anteriorly: not inflexed. Mesoscutum anteriorly: 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; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: granulate. 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: with scattered rugae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. Metascutellar setae: with many dorsal setae. Metascutellar apex: weakly emarginate. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae anteromedially: strongly diverging; weakly diverging. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: absent; one or more areoles present. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching apex of T5; reaching beyond T6; reaching middle of T6. T1 midlobe: with 4 longitudinal carinae. T1: without anterior bulge. T2: with straight longitudinal striae or rugae. T6: broader than long. Apical flange of T6: exposed apically. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate; longitudinally striate or rugose. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male. Body length 3.1-3.55 mm (n=8). A5 tyloid: expanded, teardrop-shaped or sinuate. A11: broader than long; as long as broad. Median tooth of frontal depression: absent. Median lobe of T1: with 3 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with no distinct corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frons without elevation between antennal foramen and eye. Hyperoccipital carina present, continuous with anterior genal carina. Medial mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with many strong longitudinal rugae. Metascutellum with dorsal setae. Female: A4, A5 broader than long. T1 with 4 longitudinal carinae. Male: A5 tyloid expanded. Frontal depression without tooth-like median protrusion dorsally. T1 midlobe with 3 longitudinal carinae. T7 without distinct posterolateral corners. Oxyscelio ceylonensis is very similar to Oxyscelio unguis , but differs chiefly in the longitudinal rugae mentioned here.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=5010]

Material examined.

Holotype, female, Sceliomorpha ceylonensis : SRI LANKA: 67-25, no date, Thwaites, B.M. TYPE HYM. 9.509 (deposited in BMNH). Paratypes: SRI LANKA: 3 females, OSUC 376673-376675 (BMNH). Other material: (33 females, 10 males) CHINA: 1 female, OSUC 268209 (USNM). INDIA: 3 females, OSUC 376565-376566, 376577 (BMNH). MALAYSIA: 2 females, OSUC 376746, 376751 (MCZC). NEPAL: 18 females, 9 males, OSUC 369129-369138, 369140-369145, 369147, 369150-369157, 369159, 369174 (CNCI). SRI LANKA: 5 females, ANIC DB 32-020126 (ANIC); OSUC 442262 (BMNH); OSUC 369091 (CNCI); OSUC 268172, 268174 (USNM). THAILAND: 1 female, OSUC 247605 (OSUC). VIETNAM: 3 females, 1 male, OSUC 119941 (OSUC); OSUC 277390, 277411, 281583 (RMNH).

Comments.

The lateral propodeal carinae exhibit strong variation in Oxyscelio ceylonensis , being narrowly separated and subparallel in some specimens (especially those from Nepal) and strongly divergent in others. This variation did not prove consistent enough to serve as a convincing feature for species separation.