Ooderella platyscapus Gibson, 2017, n. sp.
Creators: name: Gibson, Gary A. P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Eupelmidae
Ooderella
Ooderella platyscapus

description: Ooderella platyscapus n. sp.
Figs 194–213
Type material. Holotype ♀ (CASC). “CASENT | 2013200 / MADAGASCAR: Province | Diego-Suarez, Parc National | Montagne d’Ambre, 975m | 11 Feb to 4 March 2001 / 12°31'S, 49°11'E | M.E. Irwin, E.I. Schlinger | & R. Harin’Hala collectors | malaise trap MA-01-01B-05 / HOLOTYPE | Ooderella | platyscapus | Gibson. ” Holotype point-mounted by mesosternum; entire; uncontorted.
Allotype ♂ (CASC). “ MADAGASCAR: Prov. | Fianarantsoa, Park Nat. | Ranomafana, radio tower at | for. edge, 1130m, 8.xi.2001 / 21°15.05'S 47°24.43'E | Harin’Hala, MT mixed trop. | forest MA-02-09B-01/ ALLOTYPE | Ooderella | platyscapus | Gibson.”
Paratypes (16♀, 1♂). Madagascar. Ambohitantely Spec. Res., 18°11'48.7"S 47°17'11.3"E, 1614m, 22.XI.2011, L.S. Rahanitriniana, sifting litter under palms, Winkler app. extr. (1♀ CNC, Photo 2015-5). Antsiranana Province, R.S. Manongarivo, 20.4 km 219° SSW Antanambao, 14°02.8'S 48°24.1'E, 1860m, 3.XI.1998, B.L. Fisher #1989, montane rainforest beating low vegetation (1♀ [CASENT 2000396] CASC). Fianarantsoa Province: same data as allotype (1♂ CASC, CNC Photo 2016-104); 29 km SSW Ambositra, Ankazomivady, 20°46.6'S 47°09.9'E, 1700m, 14.I.1998, B.L. Fisher #1626 (2♀ [CASENT 2000393 & 2000395], 1♀ CNC Photo 2016-98, both CASC); Forêt d’Atsirakambiaty, 7.6 km 285° WNW Itremo, 20°35'36"S 046°33'48"E, 1550 m, 22–26.I.2003, Fischer, Griwald et al., MT, montane rainforest, BLF7155 (1♀ [CASENT 2070897] CASC); Parc National Ranomafana, radio tower at forest edge, 21°15.05'S 47°24.43'E, 1130m, 24.V– 4.VI.2002, MA-02-09B-01 (1♀ CASC, CNC Photo 2016-96), 20.III–3.IV.2003, MA-02-09B-56 (2♀ [CASENT 2029746] CASC), 6–7.VII.2003, MA-02-09B-66 (1♀ [CASENT 2030138], CNC Photo 2016-97, CASC), R. Harin’Hala, MT, mixed tropical forest; Ranomafana Nat. Pk., Belle Vue at Talatakely, 1020m, 21°15.99'S 47°25.21'E, 23–28.IV.2002, Harin’Hala, MT, sec. tropical for., MA-02-09C-26 (3♀ CASC), 28.V–6.VI.2003, MA- 02-09C-62 (2♀ [CASENT 2029736 & 2030049] CASC), 15–22.IV.2002, MA-02-09C-03 (1♀ CASC). Tam Perinet, 27.IV–3.V.1983, J.S. Noyes & M.C. Day, B.M. 1983-201 (1♀ [NHMUK 010353741] BMNH).
Etymology. A combination of the Greek words platys (broad) and scapos (stem), in reference to the compressed scape of females, one of the diagnostic features of the species.
Description. FEMALE (habitus: Fig. 197). Length = 2.4–[4.2] mm. Head (Figs 194–196) yellowish-brown to dark brown, usually with only very limited metallic luster within scrobal depression when lighter-colored, but with more distinct green to bluish lusters in scrobal depression and sometimes reddish-violaceous to purple lusters on frontovertex when darker colored, and with angulate but not distinctly color-differentiated ocellocular mark (Fig. 196); in lateral view (Fig. 195) comparatively highly convex with frontovertex quite abruptly angled relative to much longer face so broadest dorsally, about 1.2× higher than long; in frontal view (Fig. 194) about 1.2× as wide as high; in dorsal view (Fig. 196) about 1.4× as wide as long with interocular distance about 0.25× head width, and with OOL: POL: LOL: MPOD = 8: 16: 16: 5. Frontovertex with vertex variably strongly, transversely strigosestriate posteriorly and usually more strigose-imbricate anteriorly to level of posterior ocelli, but ocellar triangle meshlike coriaceous to coriaceous-imbricate, and frons otherwise at least mostly smooth and shiny except for scattered setiferous pits though often with some subeffaced meshlike sculpture in part. Scrobal depression (Fig. 194) Π-shaped, higher than wide, with lateral margin curved out from torulus toward lower inner orbit such that parascrobal region lacking, and dorsal margin extending to within almost 2× ocellar diameter from anterior ocellus. Scrobal depression, scrobes and interantennal prominence similarly reticulate-rugulose or, more commonly, scrobes and interantennal prominence more finely coriaceous-imbricate. Interantennal prominence uniformly convex though with sides inclined, and below about level of dorsal margin of toruli with comparatively inconspicuous setae of similar color as cuticle as well as on lower face. Mandible (Fig. 200) bidentate with acute ventroapical tooth and shallowly incurved dorsoapical margin. Labial and maxillary palps brown. Antenna (Fig. 198) with scape variably extensively yellow to brownish-yellow mediolongitudinally, but at least narrowly darker brown along ventral and dorsal margins, with flagellum sometimes entirely dark but usually with at least fl4 and often fl3–fl5 paler, more yellowish, compared to other darker brown flagellomeres; length of flagellum + pedicel about 1.6× head width; scape strongly compressed with ventral margin strongly out-curved over most of length; length[width] of scape: pedicel: funiculars: clava = 70[31]: 23[11]: 10[10], 28[11], 32[12], 34[16], 23[19], 23[20], 17[20], 14[21]: 39[21].
Mesosoma (Figs 201–203) similar in color to head though when comparatively light brownish-yellow pronotum obviously darker posterolaterally anterior to spiracle and without distinct metallic luster when dark brown. Legs (Fig. 197) similar in color to mesosoma except at least mesotarsus paler, more whitish, and sometimes one or more trochanters and/or trochantelli and knees or at least tibiae basally variably distinctly lighter in color. Pronotum in dorsal view (Figs 196, 201) with dorsal surface flat on either side of deep mediolongitudinal groove, but appearance otherwise variable—smallest individuals with collar slightly transverse-quadrangular and both collar and neck comparatively inconspicuously setose, but larger individuals with collar usually appearing slightly longer than wide, almost as long as anterior width and at least as long as posterior width, with lateral margins diverging slightly anteriorly and with anterior margin slightly out-curved such that anterolateral corners rightangled, and neck with obviously denser and more conspicuous dark setae than collar. Mesoscutum (Fig. 201) flat anteriorly and with lateral lobes carinately angled over about posterior half to three-quarters; transversely reticulate to reticulate-strigose or reticulate-rugose anterior of carinately angled region but gradually smoother posteriorly to meshlike coriaceous or more longitudinally coriaceous to sometimes smooth and shiny posteriorly; almost uniformly setose with posteriorly directed hairlike setae of similar color as cuticle or variably distinctly bare mediolongitudinally within carinately angled region. Scutellar-axillar complex (Fig. 202) about 1.8× as long as basal width with hairlike setae of similar color as cuticle; axillae longitudinally reticulate-strigose to strigose-striate and similar in size to scutellum; scutellum longitudinally strigose-striate except for much smoother and shinier frenal area, and with mediolongitudinal carina extending for at least half length and usually almost to frenum, elongate teardrop-shaped, about 3.6× as long as greatest width. Tegula with uniformly distributed dark setae (Fig. 201). Fore wing (Fig. 202) extending to base of gaster, about 2.9× as long as greatest width, flat, usually brownishinfuscate with brownish hairlike setae over about basal half behind ventrally setose costal cell and hyaline with white to yellowish hairlike setae over about apical half or, more commonly, with white setae medially and variably distinctly darker yellowish to dark brown, slender-lanceolate setae near apical margin; venation extending to anteroapical margin but usually somewhat narrower or constricted and/or more whitish or hyaline than yellow near apex so as to be variably distinctly differentiated as a short, often more densely setose apical part from a much longer basal part. Mesopleurosternum (Fig. 203) with acropleuron bare and mesopectus with only comparatively inconspicuous, sparse white setae; acropleuron mostly striate-coriaceous to longitudinally striate, at least along dorsal and around posterior margins, but variably extensively smoother and shinier medially and ventrally. Metacoxa (Fig. 203) sparsely setose with line of short, white, hairlike setae dorsally and denser, lanceolate white setae in usually somewhat basally widened region ventrolaterally, but bare longitudinally over outer surface. Propodeum (Fig. 202) with posterior margin Π-like incurved toward V-like emarginate anteromedial margin such that medial length about 2× that of metanotum, and medially with triangular region of smoother, often lightercolored or more translucent cuticle differentiated by ^-like incurved posterolateral margins of foramen and/or variably deep and distinct posterolaterally tapered depression on either side, and usually with incurved posterolateral margins anteriorly united into median carina over about anterior half; callus coriaceous with a couple of white setae anterior to spiracle and comparatively dense white lanceolate setae posterolaterally in region from along metapleuron to base of gaster.
Gaster (Figs 197, 204) similar in color to mesosoma except Gt1white subbasally, at least laterally and usually dorsally, and with gaster apically or at least syntergum paler, more orangish to yellowish and with syntergal flange variably paler and more translucent, and exerted part of ovipositor sheaths similarly pale; Gt1 and mostly concealed Gt2 bare and smooth and shiny or at least much more finely meshlike coriaceous than other, distinctly coriaceous and setose pre-syntergal tergites; syntergum (Fig. 204) at most about as long as basal width and shorter than penultimate tergite, with one or two rows of setae differentiating apically bare, posteriorly rounded syntergal flange from convexly inclined, bare basal region (Fig. 204: insert); ovipositor sheaths extending only slightly beyond syntergal flange.
MALE (habitus: Fig. 207). Length = [1.2]– 1.3 mm. Head (Figs 205, 206) with frontovertex mostly dark with slight violaceous luster (Fig. 206), but face below level of anterior ocellus mostly bluish except for distinct, lightcolored line extending between interantennal prominence and anterior ocellus (Fig. 205); frontovertex and face meshlike coriaceous-alutaceous except for somewhat smoother and shinier scrobes. Head in frontal view (Fig. 205) with ventral margin of torulus in line with lower orbit, vtd: dtd = 16: 21 (paratype); scrobal depression Π-like, extending dorsally almost to anterior ocellus and laterally to inner orbits such that distinct parascrobal regions lacking. Head in dorsal view (Fig. 206) with interocular distance almost 0.5× head width (paratype); OOL: POL: LOL: MPOD = 3: 12: 7: 6; with obscurely sulcate, lighter-colored ocellocular mark evident under some angles of light. Mandibles tridentate (Fig. 205). Labial and maxillary palps white (Fig. 205). Antenna (Figs 208, 209) dark brown except scape with very slight metallic luster under some angles of light; length of pedicel + flagellum about 2.7× head width; scape compressed and widest at about mid-length; length[width] of scape: pedicel: fl2–fl8: clava = 21[9]: 9[5]: 10[6], 14[6], 14[6], 13[5], 14[5], 12[5], 11[5]: 44[5]; fl2–fl8 with dense, convex, longitudinal mps about as long as flagellomere and with very short setae, and clava with multiple rows of similarly long mps but much longer setae (Fig. 208: insert).
Mesosoma (Figs 210–212) similar in color to head, mostly bluish to bluish-green except tegula white. Legs brown except following pale to white: trochanters, trochantelli, knees of front and middle legs, metatibia narrowly basally, tibiae linearly apically, and basal two tarsomeres of middle and hind legs. Mesoscutum (Figs 210, 211) entirely, shallowly meshlike reticulate; almost 0.7× as long as wide (Fig. 210). Fore wing (Fig. 213) hyaline; about 2.6× as long as wide with mv almost 0.5× width; disc dorsally with comparatively small speculum anterior to setose mediocubital fold and beyond basal fold or speculum completely obscured by setae on ventral surface (Fig. 213); cc: mv: stv: pmv = 57: 28: 15: 20 (though pmv gradually lightened apically such that limit not clearly distinguished).
Distribution (Map 2D). Madagascar.
Remarks. Females of O. platyscapus are readily distinguished from those of other Afrotropical species by the scape being strongly compressed and often by the flagellum having at least fl4 and often fl3–fl5 yellowish. They are also distinguished by the mesoscutal lateral lobes being carinately angled over at least their posterior half and the mesoscutum dorsally having somewhat less than the anterior half coarsely reticulate. Although more variable, all but the smallest females also have the pronotal neck quite densely and conspicuously setose with dark setae, and the fore wings usually have variably darker setae apically compared to more whitish setae medially. Females are similar to O. gymnosoma in having only posteriorly directed setae on the mesoscutum and a propodeum with a ^- like region of smoother cuticle differentiated posteromedially, though polarity of these two features are uncertain. Females of both species also have comparatively elongate fore wings. Those of O. platyscapus are setose with the venation extending the length of the wing, whereas O. gymnosoma has bare fore wings with the venation apparently almost lost apically such that only a detached remnant remains apically.
As noted under the generic diagnosis, males described as O. platyscapus differ structurally from New World Ooderella males in having the toruli somewhat lower on the head, and fl2–fl8 being comparatively shorter with long mps occupying almost the entire length of each flagellomere, but with a longer clava relative to the preceding flagellomeres (Figs 208, 209). However, except for the clava (Fig. 208: insert), like New World species the flagellomeres have very short setae (Fig. 209). Also similar to New World Ooderella males is that the scrobal depression has a lighter-colored line extending dorsally from the apex of the interantennal prominence (Fig. 205), and similar to all Afrotropical Ooderella females there are lighter-colored, though less obvious ocellocular marks (Fig. 206). It is unknown whether the white tegula is a species feature that may differentiate O. platyscapus males from those of the other Afrotropical species.
description: Published as part of Gibson, Gary A. P., 2017, Revision of world Ooderella Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eupelmidae), with description of the first males for the genus, pp. 1-74 in Zootaxa 4289 (1) on pages 67-71, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.828791