Oxyscelio shakespearei (Girault)

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 : 197-200

Oxyscelio shakespearei (Girault) Figures 325-330; Morphbank89

Oxyscelio shakespearei Scelio Shakespearei Girault, 1926: 1 (original description); Gordh et al. 1979: 197 (reprint of Girault (1926)).

Sceliomorpha shakespearei (Girault): Dodd 1927: 128 (generic transfer).

Oxyscelio shakespearei (Girault): Dodd 1931: 76 (generic transfer); Galloway 1976: 100 (type information).

Description.

Female. Body length 2.25-3.15 mm (n=20).

Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter than pedicel. A4: as long as broad. A5: broader than long.

Ventral clypeal margin: concave. 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 only as a weak shift in elevation. Frontal depression dorsally: not hood-like, open dorsally. Upper frons major sculpture: umbilicate foveate; transversely rugose. Upper frons microsculpture: granulate. Hyperoccipital carina: present as a single carina. Carina connecting occipital carina to hyperoccipital carina: absent. Occipital carina: present laterally, absent medially. Occiput sculpture: smooth. Extra carina ventral to occipital carina: present, complete. Gena length: shorter than eye. Major sculpture of gena anteroventrally: umbilicate foveate. Major sculpture of gena posteroventrally: umbilicate foveate; rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: granulate. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: granulate.

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: 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: 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: present as a vague, occasionally interrupted elevation. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum centrally: umbilicate foveate; longitudinally rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; longitudinally 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. 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. Postmarginal vein: absent. 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: 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: 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: umbili cate punctate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: strongly convex, tapering and sloping down to a rounded apex, not separated from apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: absent. 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: absent. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.

Male. Body length 2.15-3 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 foveate; irregularly rugose. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum peripherally: umbilicate foveate; irregularly rugose. 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; submedian carina absent or weakly indicated by a ruga. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by set of strong rugae. Occipital carina incomplete, nearly reaching hyperoccipital carina laterally. Metascutellum concave, emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein absent. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A4, A5 broader than long. Mesoscutellum with strong longitudinal rugae. T1 midlobe carinae obscured by raised smooth area. T6 without metasomal flanges, main body of tergum not abruptly separated from apical rim. Fore wing long enough to reach beyond metasomal apex. Male: A4, A11 as long or slightly longer than broad. Mesoscutellum with very strong rugose sculpture. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach beyond metasomal apex. T7 tiny, truncate.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=5034]

Material examined.

Holotype, female, S. Shakespearei: AUSTRALIA: QLD, Gordonvale (Nelson), no date, QMBA HY3118 (deposited in QMBA). Other material: AUSTRALIA: 23 females, 29 males, OSUC 442355-442357, 442365, 442367-442372, 442375-442398 (ANIC); OSUC 227545-227547 (CNCI); OSUC 451327-451328 (QDPC); UCRC ENT 76364 (UCRC); OSUC 442373 (UQIC); OSUC 442358-442364, 442366, 442399-442401 (WINC).

Comments.

Oxyscelio shakespearei is a very distinctive species recognizable by its strong mesoscutellar sculpture. The combination of an expanded T1 lateral carina, incomplete occipital carina, mostly smooth occiput, and sharp hyperoccipital carina also occurs in Oxyscelio fluctuum . It is difficult to be sure of the species group placement of Oxyscelio shakespearei . The lateral carina of T1 and overall body shape and proportions favor placing it in the atricoxa-group, but the sharp occipital carina and smooth occiput suggest that it may be closely related to the flavipes-group instead.