Oxyscelio flavipes (Kieffer)

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 : 77-80

Oxyscelio flavipes (Kieffer) Figures 101-106; Morphbank47

Sceliomorpha flavipes Kieffer, 1907: 296 (original description); Masner 1965: 96 (type information).

Psilanteris flavipes (Kieffer): Kieffer 1916: 177 (generic transfer); Kieffer 1926: 433, 435 (description, keyed).

Oxyscelio flavipes (Kieffer): Dodd 1931: 75 (generic transfer); Galloway 1976: 99 (type information); Masner 1976: 24.

Description.

Female. Body length 2.85-4 mm (n=20).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. 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: with transverse ledge, face sharply receding below it. Transverse curved rugae extending from frontal depression to eye: absent. Median longitudinal carina in frontal depression: present. Ventral portion of frontal depression: smooth. Dorsal portion of frontal depression: without transverse carinae. Submedian carina: present; present only as a weak shift in elevation. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: present as a single carina. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: present laterally, absent medially. Occiput sculpture: umbilicate punctate. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, complete. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate; absent. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate punctate; absent. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent.

Lateral pronotal area sculpture: smooth anteriorly, densely setose posteriorly. 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; umbilicate punctate. Mesoscutal midlobe sculpture at midlength: not different from nearby sculpture. 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: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; umbilicate punctate. 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: not emarginate, concave but elevated posteriorly. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellum sculpture: with large smooth posterior fovea. 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. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex at rest: reaching middle of T6. Coxae color brightness: same color as femora.

T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: obscured by other raised sculpture. 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: present. 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 2.45-4 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; longitudinally rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate punctate; absent. 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: absent. T7: truncate.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Frontal depression shallow, transverse carinae absent or interrupted; submedian carina indicated by a weak ruga, flat or only weakly rounded dorsally. Hyperoccipital carina sharp and strong. Occipital carina incomplete, lateral portions nearly reaching hyperoccipital carina. Occiput almost entirely smooth, with a row of setiferous puncta. Mesoscutum without median carina. Metascutellum broad and concave, truncate or slightly convex apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein present. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina not expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 much longer than pedicel. A4 longer than broad, A5 broader than long. Mesoscutellum weakly sculptured, with only setiferous puncta or small foveae. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach T6. T6 broader than long. Male: A4 broader than long, A11 longer than broad; A5 tyloid narrow. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach far beyond metasomal apex. T7 tiny, truncate.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=5018]

Material examined.

Holotype, female, S. flavipes: AUSTRALIA: QLD, Mackay, II-1900, R. E. Turner, B.M. TYPE HYM. 9.510 (deposited in BMNH). Other material: AUSTRALIA: 106 females, 64 males, Australian Museum K245259, K245269 (AMSA); OSUC 368242-368244, 368254, 438857-438858, 438874-438878, 438886, 438901-438906, 438914, 438916-438917, 438920, 438923, 445348, 451292, 451294, 451296-451297 (ANIC); OSUC 227566, 227606, 227609, 227615, 227622, 227629, 462592-462597 (CNCI); OSUC 376737 (MCZC); OSUC 165732, 221760-221762, 221764, 451273, 62719, 62728, 62739-62741, 63076, 63086, 63095, 63097, 63102, 63104-63105, 63190, 63228, 72257-72258 (OSUC); OSUC 368253, 438891, 438910, 451269, QDPC 0-165632, QDPC 0-165635, QDPC 0-165638, QDPC 0-165639, QDPC 0-165642, QDPC 0-165644, QDPC 0-165657, QDPC 0-165665, QDPC 0-165679, QDPC 0-165693, QDPC 0-165706, QDPC 0-165720, QDPC 0-165721, QDPC 0-165730, QDPC 0-165734, QDPC 0-165736, QDPC 0-165747, QDPC 0-165758, QDPC 0-165770, QDPC 0-165772, QDPC 0-165778, QDPC 0-165787 (QDPC); OSUC 148371, 368240-368241, 368256, 438879-438880, 438907-438909, 438915 (QMBA); OSUC 448596 (QPIM); UCRC ENT 100244 (UCRC); OSUC 368238-368239, 368245-368252, 368255, 438855-438856, 438859-438873, 438881-438885, 438887-438890, 438892-438900, 438911-438913, 438918-438919, 438921-438922, 438924-438929, 445347, 451268, 451270-451272, 451293, 451295, 451298 (WINC).

Comments.

Our concept of this species allows for considerable variation in sculpture and setation. The sculptural variation includes differences in the height and distinction of the submedian carina, strength of a longitudinal ridge along the median axis of the frontal depression, sculpture of the metasomal depression, and strength of the longitudinal elevations on the posteromedian part of the mesoscutal midlobe. Density of setation also may vary on the occiput and mesoscutellum. This variation does correlate with collection locality. It is possible that our concept of Oxyscelio flavipes applies to several sibling species, but no consistent patterns of variation were found to support that possibility.