Oxyscelio cuspidis 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 : 64-66

Oxyscelio cuspidis Burks sp. n. Figures 77-80; Morphbank42

Description.

Female. Body length 3.2-3.95 mm (n=14).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both dark brown. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer 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: present. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate; transversely rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: granulate. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by a set of irregular elevations. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: weakly arched dorsally, with rounded lateral corners. Occiput sculpture: irregularly sculptured. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, medially incomplete. 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: granulate.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: anteriorly smooth, posterodorsal corner with dense microsculpture, ventral corner with irregular carinae. Posterior border of central pronotal area: directed anteriorly, protruding at corner of epomial carina and transverse pronotal carina. 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: with large smooth areas. 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 narrow carina; present as a flattened or rounded elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbili cate 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, 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: reaching base of T5. Coxae color brightness: darker than femora. Spines along tibiae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae: broadly separated, not parallel 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: 6. 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: present. 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: longitudinally striate; umbilicate fove ate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: with a median projection set off by an abrupt narrowing posterior to tiny metasomal flanges, not separated from apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: present subapically. 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: truncate.

Male. unknown.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression deep, carinae not present above dorsal separator; submedian carina distinct, sharp. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina complete, medially weakly convex. Metascutellum concave dorsally, weakly emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Coxa darker than rest of leg. Postmarginal vein absent. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4, A5 broader than long. T4 with sharp corners, T5 with small sharp metasomal flanges, not otherwise abruptly narrower than preceding tergum. Main body of T6 not raised above apical rim, not abruptly separated from it; T6 with small and sharp subapical metasomal flanges. S6 not exposed to dorsal view.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “point.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=307073]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: AUSTRALIA: QLD, Mount Moffatt Section, 3km SE park headquarters, Carnarvon National Park, 25°04'39"S, 148°00'30"E, 740m, 21.XI.1995, malaise trap, Irwin, Gaimari et al., OSUC 439574 (deposited in QMBA). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 13 females, ANIC DB 32-020111, 32-020112, 32-020113, OSUC 439570, OSUC 439571, OSUC 439572, OSUC 439573, OSUC 439577, OSUC 439578, OSUC 439579, OSUC 439580, OSUC 439581 (ANIC); OSUC 439575 (WINC).

Comments.

Females of Oxyscelio cuspidis are easily recognized by the convex and smoothly sloping T6 with subapical spine-like metasomal flanges. Males are currently unknown, but may be difficult to distinguish from those of other atricoxa-group species.