Oxyscelio pulveris Burks

Burks, Roger A., Masner, Lubomir, Johnson, Norman F. & Austin, Andrew D., 2016, Systematics of the parasitic wasp genus Oxyscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae s. l.), part III: African fauna, ZooKeys 565, pp. 29-71 : 56

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Platygastridae

Oxyscelio pulveris Burks sp. n. Figures 58-61; Morphbank 24

Description.

Female. Body length 3.5 mm (n = 1).

Radicle color: same as scape. A4: longer than broad. A5: broader than long. Upper frons: not hood-like. Frontal depression sculpture: with 3 or more broadly interrupted transverse carinae. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate-punctate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: granulate. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate. Hyperoccipital carina: complete as a sharp carina. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: present, complete. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: present as a distinct carina. Area between vertex and occipital carina: rugose; umbilicate-punctate. Occipital carina medially: sinuate with a more strongly arched median portion. Lateral corners of occipital carina: sharp and protruding corners present.

Mesoscutum anteriorly: not steep. Mesoscutal median carina: present and complete. 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: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: granulate. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum laterally: granulate. Number of carinae crossing femoral depression: 4 or more. Mesepimeral sulcus pits: more than 5. Setae along anterior limit of femoral depression: arising from rows of foveae. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture centrally: smooth. Metascutellar apex: convex or straight. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Lateral propodeal carinae antero-medially: weakly diverging. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: one or more areoles present. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: median carina present. Postmarginal vein: present. Fore wing apex: reaching beyond T6. Hind wing vein (Sc+R): not interrupted.

Carinae between T1 midlobe and T1 lateral carina: absent. T1 midlobe: with 5 longitudinal carinae. T1: without anterior bulge. T6: longer than broad. Metasomal apex: tapering to a sharp point. Major sculpture of T6: longitudinally striate or rugose. Microsculpture of T6: granulate.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Hyperoccipital carina present and sharp, connected to occipital carina by lateral carina; median carina present between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae. Gena with granulate sculpture posteroventrally but not anteroventrally. Mesoscutellum with granulate sculpture throughout. Metasomal depression without setae, with median carina; lateral propodeal carinae weakly diverging. Hind wing Sc+R vein complete. Female: A4 longer than broad.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “dust.”

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=309300]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: RWANDA: primary rainforest, Nyungwe Forest, 02°46 ’10” S 29°21 ’09” E, 24. VIII– 26.VIII.1993, pan trap/flight intercept trap/malaise trap, L. Leblanc, OSUC369388 (deposited in CNCI).

Comments.

See the discussion under Oxyscelio lunae for comparison of these two very similar species.