Oxyscelio limae 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 I: Indo-Malayan and Palearctic fauna, ZooKeys 292, pp. 1-263 : 154-157

Oxyscelio limae Burks sp. n. Figures 294-299Morphbank84

Description.

Female. Body length 3.65-4.1 mm (n=20).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Yellowish. A4: broader than long. 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: present. 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: without striae. Smooth strip along pos terior 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: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: not indicated medially. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: absent. Area between vertex and occipital carina: with transverse carinae. Occipital carina medially: uniformly rounded. 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: present. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: umbilicate-punctate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; umbilicate-punctate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: granulate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate; irregularly rugose. Microsculpture of mesoscutellum medially: absent. 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: 3-5. Metascutellum dorsally: flat. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: with scattered rugae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. Metascutellar setae: absent. Metascutellar apex: convex or straight. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Lateral propodeal carinae anteromedially: strongly diverging. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: absent. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: absent. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: absent. Fore wing apex: reaching apex of T4.

T1 midlobe: obscured by other raised sculpture. T1: with small rounded anterior bulge, not reaching metascutellum. T2: with straight longitudinal striae or rugae. T6: broader than long. Apical flange of T6: not exposed apically. Metasomal apex: rounded. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate-punctate; longitudinally striate or rugose. Microsculpture of T6: absent.

Male. Body length 3.5-4.1 mm (n=20). A5 tyloid: carina-like, not expanded. A11: broader than long. Median tooth of frontal depression: absent. Median lobe of T1: with 4 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: Hyperoccipital carina indicated by a strong carina or ruga; occipital carina complete. Mesosoma very tall and steep anteriorly, descending at a right angle. Medial mesoscutum with at least 5 longitudinal carinae or sculptured elevations anteriorly, the lateral pairs merging posteriorly. Mesoscutellum with some granulate sculpture posterolaterally. Metascutellum elongate, smooth medially, extending over base of T1. Fore wing venation not reaching anterior wing margin. Female: Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T6. T1 midlobe with a smooth elevation obscuring carinae anteriorly. T6 broader than long.

Male: T1 midlobe with 4-5 longitudinal carinae. T7 with sharp, protruding posterolateral corners.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “carpenter’s file." Refers to the strong longitudinal sculpture of the mesoscutum.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275508]

Material examined.

Holotype, female: SRI LANKA: Central Prov., Kandy Dist., Victoria-Randenigala-Rantambe Sanctuary, 07°12.624'N, 80°56.540'E, 23.VIII-30.VIII.1999, malaise trap, M. Wasbauer & J. Wasbauer, OSUC 369087 (deposited in CNCI). Paratypes: SRI LANKA: 25 females, 28 males, OSUC 369086, 369092-369093 (CNCI); OSUC 268097, 268108-268112, 268114-268121, 268124-268126, 268129, 268131-268134, 268140-268141, 268143-268146, 268148-268149, 268151-268157, 268159-268162, 268165-268170, 268176, 268277-268278 (USNM).

Comments.

Oxyscelio limae is distinctive within its species group in being short-bodied, with a long metascutellum. The extra mesoscutal carinae appear to be more sharply and distinctly defined versions of elevated areas found between the notauli in some other Oxyscelio species. In males, these carinae may be less distinct, with some granulate sculpture.