Oxyscelio praecipitis 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 : 196-199

Oxyscelio praecipitis Burks sp. n. Figures 377-380Morphbank101

Description.

Female. Unknown.

Male. Body length 3.8 mm (n=1).

Radicle color: same color as scape. Scape color: Brown. A5 tyloid: carina-like, not expanded. A11: longer than broad.

Interantennal process: not elongate. Median longitudinal elevation in frontal depression: absent. Frontal depression: concave. Frontal depression sculpture: without transverse or oblique carinae below submedian carina. Submedian carina: strong, formed by a sharp raised carina. Submedian carina medially: without peak. Median tooth of frontal depression: absent. Concavity across dorsal part of frontal depression: absent. 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: with radiating striae. Smooth strip along posterior side of malar sulcus: absent or not consistently broad. Middle genal carina: absent. Direction of middle genal carina dorsally: absent (replace with question mark). Major sculpture of gena anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; rugose. Major sculpture of gena posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate; rugose. Microsculpture of gena anteroventrally: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of gena posteroventrally: absent. Median carina extending posteriorly from hyperoccipital carina: absent. Hyperoccipital carina: indicated by rugae. Lateral connection between hyperoccipital and occipital carinae: absent. Area between vertex and occipital carina: umbilicate-foveate; irregularly rugose. Occipital carina medially: absent. 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: absent. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Major sculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: umbilicate-foveate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum anteriorly: absent; granulate. Microsculpture of medial mesoscutum posteriorly: absent; granulate. Major sculpture of mesoscutellum: umbilicate-foveate. 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: more than 5. Metascutellum dorsally: concave. Metascutellar sculpture dorsally: smooth or with transverse carinae. Median carina of metascutellum: absent or branched. Metascutellar setae: with many dorsal setae. Metascutellar apex: weakly emarginate. Metapleuron above ventral metapleural area: crossed by carinae. Metasomal depression setae: absent. Anterior areoles of metasomal depression: one or more areoles present. Anterior longitudinal carinae in metasomal depression: median carina present. Lateral propodeal areas: separated medially. Postmarginal vein: present.

Median lobe of T1: with 4 longitudinal carinae. Metasomal apex: with acuminate lateral corners.

Diagnosis.

Male: Frontal depression shallow, submedian carina only indicated dorsally. Hyperoccipital carina complete but indicated by a set of rugae. Mesosoma tall and steep anteriorly. Medial mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with granulate sculpture. Metascutellum setose dorsally. Petiolar depression with median carina anteriorly. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. T7 with sharp, protruding posterolateral corners. Oxyscelio praecipitis is unusual among Philippine species in having an anteriorly tall and steep mesosoma. The dorsally setose metascutellum is also very unusual, especially in species with a weakly defined hyperoccipital carina.

Etymology.

Latin noun, genitive case, meaning “danger” or "steep place."

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-full.html?id=275565]

Material examined.

Holotype, male: PHILIPPINES: Laguna Prov., Mount Makiling (Maquiling), no date, Baker, OSUC 268220 (deposited in USNM).