Systematics of the parasitic wasp genus Oxyscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae s.l.), part II: the Australian and southwest Pacific fauna

Abstract The Australasian and southwest Pacific species of Oxyscelio (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae s.l.) are revised. A total of 80 species are recognized as valid, 13 of which are redescribed: O. atricoxa (Dodd), O. concoloripes (Dodd), O. flavipes (Kieffer), O. grandis (Dodd), O. hyalinipennis (Dodd), O. magniclava (Dodd), O. mirellus (Dodd), O. montanus (Dodd), O. nigriclava (Dodd), O. nigricoxa (Dodd), O. rugulosus (Dodd), O. shakespearei (Girault), and O. solitarius (Dodd). Oxyscelio glabriscutellum (Dodd) syn. n. is placed as a subjective junior synonym of O. rugulosus. Sixty-seven new species are described, many representing new distributional records for the genus - O. aciculae Burks, sp. n., O. anfractus Burks, sp. n., O. bellariorum Burks, sp. n., O. bicoloripedis Burks, sp. n., O. brevitas Burks, sp. n., O. catenae Burks, sp. n., O. caudarum Burks, sp. n., O. circulorum Burks, sp. n., O. clivi Burks, sp. n., O. clupei Burks, sp. n., O. conjuncti Burks, sp. n., O. contusionis Burks, sp. n., O. corrugationis Burks, sp. n., O. croci Burks, sp. n., O. cuspidis Burks, sp. n., O. densitatis Burks, sp. n., O. dissimulationis Burks, sp. n., O. divisionis Burks, sp. n., O. exiguitatis Burks, sp. n., O. fluctuum Burks, sp. n., O. foliorum Burks, sp. n., O. funis Burks, sp. n., O. gressus Burks, sp. n., O. hamorum Burks, sp. n., O. incisurae Burks, sp. n., O. lenitatis Burks, sp. n., O. leviventris Burks, sp. n., O. limbi Burks, sp. n., O. liminis Burks, sp. n., O. linguae Burks, sp. n., O. lintris Burks, sp. n., O. livens Burks, sp. n., O. mystacis Burks, sp. n., O. nasi Burks, sp. n., O. nitoris Burks, sp. n., O. obliquiatis Burks, sp. n., O. oblongiclypei Burks, sp. n., O. obturationis Burks, sp. n., O. oculi Burks, sp. n., O. palati Burks, sp. n., O. pectinis Burks, sp. n., O. pollicis Burks, sp. n., O. proceritatis Burks, sp. n., O. productionis Burks, sp. n., O. radii Burks, sp. n., O. rami Burks, sp. n., O. rupturae Burks, sp. n., O. sarcinae Burks, sp. n., O. scismatis Burks, sp. n., O. sciuri Burks, sp. n., O. scutorum Burks, sp. n., O. sepisessor Burks, sp. n., O. sinuationis Burks, sp. n., O. sordes Burks, sp. n., O. spatula Burks, sp. n., O. stipulae Burks, sp. n., O. stringerae Burks, sp. n., O. tenuitatis Burks, sp. n., O. truncationis Burks, sp. n., O. tubi Burks, sp. n., O. umbonis Burks, sp. n., O. uncinorum Burks, sp. n., O. valdecatenae Burks, sp. n., O. velamenti Burks, sp. n., O. verrucae Burks, sp. n., O. viator Burks, sp. n., and O. wa Burks, sp. n. The fauna is divided into nine diagnostic species groups, with five species unplaced to group.


Introduction
The genus Oxyscelio Kiefer is comprised of relatively robust platygastroid wasps that occur across equatorial and east Africa, Madagascar, the southeastern part of the Palaearctic, and the Indo-Malayan, Australasian and southwest Pacific regions. They are relatively easily identified by the fore wing submarginal vein being distant from wing margin, the marginal vein being very short, a postmarginal vein being virtually absent, and the metascutellum being plate-like. In addition, many species can be recognised by the presence of a frontal depression on the head. This is the second of three studies aimed at revising the global fauna of Oxyscelio, the southeastern Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan species having been completed recently (Burks et al. 2013) with the African-Malagasy fauna currently in preparation. A more detailed taxonomic history, generic description and bibliography of the genus are presented in the first paper.
Previously, 14 species were described from the region, all from the Australian mainland and all prior to 1930. Dodd (1913Dodd ( , 1914Dodd ( , 1920 was responsible for 12 species, with a single species each described by Kieffer (1907) and Girault (1926). Since then, very large amounts of material have been collected, mostly in the last 30 years using modern collecting techniques, particularly yellow pan and Malaise traps. The current study treats the Australasian and southwest Pacific taxa, and we recognize 67 new species, redescribe 13 species, and recommend one new synonymy. This work has arisen from our Platygastroidea Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (see below), which aims to revise all species on a worldwide basis for a number of important platygastroid genera.
The contributions of the individual authors are as follows; R.A. Burks: character definition, species concept development; key development, imaging, capture of specimen data, manuscript preparation, phylogenetic analysis and illustration; L. Masner: specimen acquisition, and generic overview; N.F. Johnson: generic concept development and manuscript preparation; A.D. Austin: project planning, species concept discussions, manuscript preparation, and taxonomic overview.

Materials and methods
Specimens examined were provided by the following collections: The American Entomological Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA (AEIC) 1 ; Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia (AMSA) 2 ; Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra, Australia (ANIC) 3  Diminutive variant terms (such as "foveolate" or "rugulose") were avoided because of a lack of criteria for separating them from non-diminutive alternatives. "Major" surface sculpture refers to repeated sculptural patterns that interact with seta placement. It does not include non-repeated elements or those which are repeated only once due to bilateral symmetry. "Umbilicate-foveate" sculpture refers to rounded crater-like sculptural elements, each surrounding a setiferous punctum (and thus interacting with a seta), with each fovea being much larger than its setiferous punctum and spatially separated from it ( Fig. 1a: UF). Umbilicate-punctate sculpture indicates that no sculptural element accompanies the setiferous punctum -and therefore the setiferous punctum is the "major" surface sculpture element here ( Fig. 1b: UP). Rugose sculpture refers to branching or wrinkling elevations that flank setiferous puncta but do not fully surround them (Fig. 1d: RU). Where both umbilicate-foveate and umbilicate-punctate sculpture are reported for the same sclerite, this should be interpreted as variable sculpture where some setiferous puncta are surrounded by foveae while others are not -and such variation may occur in a single species or specimen. Under this scheme, "major" surface sculpture cannot occur in any part of the sclerite that lacks setae.
"Microsculpture" refers to repeated sculptural elements that do not interact with seta placement. Microsculpture can occur on "major" sculptural elements, such as on rugae and on all surfaces of foveae. Punctate microsculpture refers to tiny round pits that do not bear setae ( Fig. 1a: PM). Granulate microsculpture refers to sculpture that is similar to that of leather or skin, with a network of grooves ( Fig. 1c: GM). Microsculpture can occur in areas that lack setae. While there are other ways of classifying surface sculpture according to subjective differences in interests, we use this method because we maintain that major sculpture and microsculpture are mutually exclusive classes. One might maintain that "smoothness" plays a role in sculptural classification, but we find that word to be problematic because it describes an absence of sculptural variation, not the specific absence of one definable type of sculpture. We are much more satisfied with descriptors that refer to particular types of sculpture.
One of the difficulties in defining surface sculpture using hierarchies and genusdifferentia formats is that there is more than one valid way of classifying surface sculpture into Aristotelian genera. We maintain that the art of creating genus-differentia definitions, although ancient, is not yet at a methodologically mature state. Another problem is that variation can render some commonly-used sculptural classifications problematic. Finally, surface sculpture has typically been named and defined using only vague shape or pattern-based comparisons to other, better known entities (such as reticulate = net-like), and not through more purely logical means. Umbilicate-foveate sculpture could be called "reticulate," for instance, because of a net-like pattern of foveae. However, in some Australian Oxyscelio this is not clearly reticulate because only very sparsely distributed umbilicate foveae may be present, with very broad interspaces-and variation from a pattern that appears reticulate to a much more sparse pattern can occur within species. For that reason, we have avoided using the term "reticulate" for Oxyscelio even though it is valid in many other taxa. Others could dispute this assertion, but we maintain that this would reflect only differences in subjective perspectives.
We assert that the word "pit" is a word but not a specialized term, having terminological importance only as part of a two-word term that includes a specialized term as a qualifier, as in "tentorial pit." For that reason, we have changed from using "pit" to using "punctum" (the Latin word for "puncture") here. We make no distinction between types of puncti other than to describe them as setiferous or not, but other criteria for classifying puncti probably exist for Oxyscelio. For raised sculptural elements, some might claim that all raised sculpture is the same unless it can be related to an internal structure, but we maintain that actual word synonymy implies that the words are truly interchangeable. For instance, "carina" and "ruga" are synonymous only if every instance of "carina" could also be referred to as "ruga," and vice versa. We maintain that this is not true for carina versus ruga, and therefore we consider those terms distinct. The term "stria" has historically been used for repeating linear elements that form a localized pattern in certain cases, and we uphold previous usage here. For certain "carinae" that are named as particular structures, their shape can be irregular but we have followed established usage for naming those structures. We maintain that terms such as "occipital carina" are two-word terms that refer consistently to a homologous deum. Lateral propodeal projection: well-developed, extending clearly beyond anterior -Hyperoccipital carina incomplete (Fig. 12), indicated by rounded rugae (Fig.  178), or indicated by a set of 3 or more carinae (Figs 38,370 Mesoscutellum with oblique elevated sculpture in female (Fig. 226 Mesoscutal midlobe with median carina (Fig. 284). Female: fore wing long enough to reach beyond metasomal apex. Male: T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae anteriorly (Fig. 288)  19 T1 lateral carina expanded and laterally lobe-like (Fig. 13), or absent with the area obscured by dense sculpture (Fig. 168). Metasomal flanges present on T5 and/or T6 in male and female of species with an obscured lateral T1 carina (Fig. 168). T7 deeply concave apically in some males (Fig. 62) ......20 -T1 lateral carina simple, not expanded, carina-like (Figs 3,5). Metasomal flanges absent (Fig. 5). T7 apically truncate or very weakly emarginate in male (Fig. 7)  Female: Main body of T6 forming a complete ledge above apical rim, hiding it from dorsal view, instead usually concave and revealing apex of S6 to dorsal view (Figs 190,368). Male: T5-T7 with metasomal flanges ( Frontal depression with transverse carinae present in dorsal portion (Fig. 121), although these carinae may be medially interrupted (Fig. 395); submedian carina weakly developed or absent (Figs 121,395). Coxa always darker than rest of leg (Fig. 119)  Female: A4 longer than broad, A5 as long as or longer than broad (Fig. 121). Male: T6 metasomal flanges with strong corners and hardly projecting ( Metascutellum tiny (Fig. 394). Apex of S6 exposed to dorsal view (Fig. 396)  Female: T6 deeply emarginate but medially truncate (Fig. 190). Male: A11 broader than long (Fig. 191). Coxa darker than rest of leg (Fig. 187)  -If apical terga abruptly narrower than preceding terga, then some of them other than apical tergum with metasomal flanges (Fig. 380). T7 emarginate but without metasomal flanges (Fig. 294)  Female: T6 with lateral ledges that medially slope down to the apical rim ( Female: T6 apex with strongly protruding posterior rim, main body of tergum anterior to it forming a narrowed shelf laterally, median carina extending from main body of tergum to apical rim; all this together forming an almost tridentshaped apex (Figs 46,50 Female (males unknown): Fore wings not long enough to extend beyond T5 (Fig. 368) Frontal depression deep and nearly parallel-sided, with many transverse carinae above and below dorsal separator, but submedian carina weak or absent medially (Fig. 59). Female: Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T4 or T5; T6 apically steep and not emarginate (Fig. 60). Male: Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T5, T7 broadly emarginate (Fig. 62), A11 longer than broad (Fig. 61)  Hyperoccipital carina indicated by sharp carina (Fig. 314). Female: submedian carina indicated by a set of weak rugae or carinae (Fig. 315). Mesoscutel-lum with elevated sculpture, including weakly indicated oblique elevations (Fig. 314) Coxa darker than rest of leg (Fig. 11 Female: fore wing not long enough to exceed metasomal apex; A4 longer than broad; T6 not concave apically (Fig. 84) .... Oxyscelio densitatis Burks, sp. n. -Female: fore wing long enough to reach or exceed metasomal apex, A4 as broad or broader than long; T6 at least mildly concave apically (Figs 186,215) ...... 66 66 Female: mesoscutellum very sparsely foveate, with broad smooth areas between foveae (Fig. 184); T6 only slightly concave apically ( Either: hyperoccipital carina irregular or weakly developed, or: frontal depression with transverse carinae that may be interrupted medially (Fig. 4) and occipital carina complete medially (Fig. 3)  Female: T1 horn weakly developed, not nearly reaching metascutellum (Figs 3,5); fore wing long enough to reach middle of T6; T6 broader than long (Fig. 5). Male: fore wing long enough to exceed metasomal apex; metasoma moderately broad (Fig. 7)

Species groups of Australasian and Oceanic Oxyscelio
These groups are provided here to indicate intuitively perceived structure within the genus, and to provide an aid for identification. They are characterized in the above key and are diagnosed here in a succinct way. Some characters are omitted from certain species group diagnoses because those characters are variable within the group or are otherwise unhelpful for that particular group's identification. Individual species descriptions can be consulted regarding characters omitted from these diagnoses.

Oxyscelio aciculae species group
Characteristics: Hyperoccipital carina absent or represented by weak rugae. Occipital carina complete or incomplete. Metascutellum nearly flat, subrectangular. Postmarginal vein present, strong. T1 lateral carina not expanded. Metasomal flanges absent. Main body of T6 in females not forming ledge above apical rim. T7 in males small, not or only weakly emarginate.
Comments: The aciculae-group contains long-bodied species with a narrower and flatter metascutellum than similarly-shaped species from Asia. An anterior T1 horn may be present or not. Metasomal depression sculpture, frontal depression depth and sculpture, and the presence of an outlined dorsal area of the occiput can be used to further subdivide these species. Some species in Asia and Africa also have an outlined, dorsally concave area of the occiput, but do not strongly resemble any species in this group in features of the face and metascutellum.
This group resembles the and catenae-group, concoloripes-group, and proceritatisgroup in general habitus, but lack distinctive features present in those groups. The aciculae-group may be closely related to the flavipes-group, especially to species such as O. tubi, but these groups are kept separate based on differences in the metascutellum.

Oxyscelio atricoxa species group
Characteristics: Hyperoccipital carina variable. Occipital carina complete medially. Metascutellum with a broad apical fovea and dorsally projecting posterior corners. Postmarginal vein absent or extremely short. T1 lateral carina expanded, visible from ventral view. Metasomal flanges present, or main body of T6 abruptly elevated above apical rim, in some species.
Comments: The atricoxa-group contains species that have either an expanded lateral T1 carina or a strongly sculptured area in its place (in which case distinct Metasomal flanges are present). While it is not convenient to lump distinctive species such as O. mirellus with very generalized species such as O. atricoxa, the fine gradient of variation between presence and absence of Metasomal flanges prevents any logical dividing line between these sets of species. No intuitive group containing O. atricoxa is monophyletic in our analysis (Fig. 1), but we hypothesize that the presence of Metasomal flanges represents an apomorphic character. The limae-group from Sri Lanka and India resembles this group in body shape, and in that some members have apparent tiny Metasomal flanges, but they do not resemble the atricoxa-group in features of the metascutellum or T1.  O. gressus, O. hamorum, O. hyalinipennis, O. incisurae, O. limbi, O. liminis, O. livens, O. magniclava, O. mirellus, O. montanus, O. nigriclava, O. nigricoxa, O. nitoris, O. obturationis, O. palati, O. pollicis, O. rami, O. rupturae, O. sarcinae, O. sarcinae, O. scismatis, O. scutorum, O. sordes, O. stipulae, O. tenuitatis, O. truncationis, O. umbonis, O. uncinorum, O. velamenti, O. wa.
Ventral clypeal margin: with slightly convex median lobe. 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. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 longer than broad, A5 nearly as long as broad. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe carinae obscured by raised area. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T5. Male: A4, A11 longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T6. T7 truncate or slightly emarginate apically, without apical protrusions. Oxyscelio catenae is unusual in having sharp epomial corners and a raised smooth strip on the mesoscutal midlobe postero-medially. These features are shared with Oxyscelio valdecatenae, which has a more strongly sculptured mesoscutellum and shorter body and metasoma.

Oxyscelio clupei
Comments. Our concept of this species suggests that it is variable in female metasomal length. The holotype has a shorter metasoma, in which T6 is broader than long, but some specimens have a longer metasoma, where T6 is longer than broad. Specimens of both forms have been found from the same collection events, and some specimens appear to be intermediate between the two states. Several other Australian species are entirely dark brown, but these species differ in many other respects, and do not appear to form a monophyletic group. T1 horn: absent. Number of longitudinal carinae of T1 midlobe: 4. 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: present as slightly protruding sharp corners. T5 sculpture: longitudinally striate to rugose, setal pits spanning interspaces. T5 metasomal flanges: present as strong posterior corners. T6: broader than long. Major sculpture of T6: umbilicate punctate. Microsculpture of T6: absent. T6 medially: with deep emargination that is V-shaped medially, separated from apical rim. T6 metasomal flanges: present as slightly expanded lateral rims, rounded posteriorly. 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: present. S6 peripheral carina: absent. S6 apex in relation to T6: not exposed to dorsal view. S6 apex: rounded or acuminate.
Ventral clypeal margin: concave. Diagnosis. Both sexes: Frontal depression nearly parallel-sided, transverse carinae complete but weakly indicated; submedian carina sharp or weak and irregular. Hyperoccipital carina sharp and strong. Occipital carina incomplete, lateral portions almost reaching hyperoccipital carina; occiput with many weak rugae and a row of strong setiferous puncta. Metascutellum with a concave postero-medial area, laterally with broad longitudinally striate area, weakly emarginate, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein present. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina not expanded laterally. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 longer than broad, A5 as long or longer than broad. Mesoscutellum densely and coarsely sculptured. T1 midlobe with 5 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach or exceed T6. Male: All flagellomeres longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 3 or 4 longitudinal carinae, hardly raised above sidelobes. Mesoscutellum with strong irregular rugae and some granulate sculpture. Fore wing long enough to reach beyond T7. T7 truncate, steeply sloping. Oxyscelio croci is very similar to Oxyscelio oculi, differing in having stronger sculpture in females and in having more irregular mesoscutellar sculpture in males. These species have overlapping distributions, and males can be difficult to distinguish.
Male. Unknown. Diagnosis. Both sexes: Frontal depression shallow, transverse carinae absent or broadly interrupted ventrally, with sometimes a few faint carinae dorsally; submedian carina absent medially. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by weak rugae. Occipital carina complete, weakly convex or omicron-shaped medially. Metascutellum deeply concave, truncate or weakly emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein absent. Coxa darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 longer than broad, A5 nearly as long as broad. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae or with raised sculpture obscuring them. T6 without metasomal flanges, main body of tergum sloping down to apical rim. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T5 or middle of T6. Oxyscelio densitatis is very similar to O. nigricoxa and a few other species with dark coxae. It is larger-bodied than those species, and does not have a concave T6. Among larger-bodied species, it is similar to O. atricoxa, but has an incomplete submedian carina and differently-shaped T6.
Etymology. Latin noun, genitive case, meaning "density, abundance." Refers to the abundance of mesoscutal midlobe foveae. Comments. Oxyscelio dissimulationis has a sharp hyperoccipital carina but medially interrupted occipital carina, as in the flavipes-group. The expanded lateral carina of T1 is like that found in the atricoxa-group. Oxyscelio shakespearei is similar in having the above combination of features, but lacks a postmarginal vein. Description. Female. Body length 3.2-3.5 mm (n=11).
Comments. Our concept of this species allows for considerable variation in sculpture and setation. The sculptural variation includes differences in the height and distinction of the submedian carina, strength of a longitudinal ridge along the median axis of the frontal depression, sculpture of the metasomal depression, and strength of the longitudinal elevations on the posteromedian part of the mesoscutal midlobe. Density of setation also may vary on the occiput and mesoscutellum. This variation does correlate with collection locality. It is possible that our concept of O. flavipes applies to several sibling species, but no consistent patterns of variation were found to support that possibility. Comments. Oxyscelio grandis is known only from a broken male specimen consisting only of a mesosoma and metasoma, which was its state when described by Dodd (1913). These parts are sufficient to establish that no other known Australian specimens belong to this species. The elongate T7 spines are unlike those of any member of the atricoxa-group, suggesting that this species likely belongs to another species group, or that it is not closely related to any other known Australian Oxyscelio. This species is excluded from the phylogenetic analysis due to the very large amount of missing data. Description. Female. Body length 3.55-3.7 mm (n=2).
Comments. Oxyscelio hyalinipennis is a small-bodied member of the atricoxagroup with few distinctive features. Our concept of this species includes an unpublished Dodd species that he considered separate, differing from O. hyalinipennis only in having a slightly larger body with a slightly longer metasoma. This variation is hypothesized by us to be the result of an increased body-size when parasitizing a slightly larger host. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4, A5 broader than long. T4 with weak metasomal flanges. T5 with lobe-like metasomal flanges. T6 with broad, wavy lateral metasomal flanges. T6 broadly and deeply emarginate, truncate medially. S6 exposed to dorsal view, rounded apically. Male: A3, A4, A11 longer than broad. Mesoscutellum and mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly with small and densely set foveae, mesoscutellum without smooth area medially. T5 with weak metasomal flanges, T6 with lobe-like metasomal flanges. T7 with broad postero-lateral lobes, deeply emarginate medially, posterior margin broadly M-shaped. Oxyscelio incisurae is very similar to O. funis and O. bellariorum, but differs in the short antenna and small and close-set mesoscutal midlobe foveae of females. Males may be more difficult to distinguish from similar species, but the long, dark flagellum in the only examined male was distinctive.

Oxyscelio incisurae
Etymology. Latin noun, genitive case, meaning "incision." Link to distribution map. Comments. Oxyscelio leviventris is similar to some members of the flavipes-group, as indicated by the usual loss of notauli and the smooth mesoscutellum. However, the occiput is roughly sculptured, and the frontal depression is very weak. Some other species in southeast Australia also exhibit dark coloration and reduced sculpture, but at least some of these may be convergent. While the absence of notauli may be striking in some specimens, this feature appears to be variable in this and some other species. Description. Female. Body length 9.1-11 mm (n=20).
Ventral clypeal margin: uniformly convex. Comments. Oxyscelio lintris is an unusual species with a rugose metascutellum and short posterolateral corners on T7. This species is therefore of uncertain placement, but is provisionally placed in the aciculae-group because of its similarity to O. productionis. Description. Female. Body length 2.6-3.2 mm (n=20).
Link to distribution map. Comments. Oxyscelio mirellus is distinctive in having a very broadly and deeply emarginate T6 with broad metasomal flanges, in combination with short flagellomeres in both sexes. South Australian specimens are slightly smaller than those from Western Australia, but otherwise seemed conspecific. ( lematic, but female specimens have been assigned to this species through reasoning that they likely had relatively short A4 and A5, and a strong submedian carina. Our concept of O. montanus includes variation in radicle color, but intermediates between the two states (having a partially dark radicle) imply that this is a safe conclusion. Comments. Oxyscelio nasi does not greatly resemble any other species of Oxyscelio. The elongate interantennal process is very distinctive, as is the weak mesoscutal and mesoscutellar sculpture. The two male specimens differ in the depth of the apical T7 emargination, but this is regarded here as intraspecific variation. ( Comments. Oxyscelio nigriclava is a problematic species that may be near O. mirellus and other species with strong Metasomal flanges, but which has a very differently shaped T6 in females. The main body of T6 is distinctly raised above its apical rim, but is not concave apically and has a semi-translucent rim instead of truncated metasomal flanges. ( -359708, 359712, 436936, 438039-438057, 438065-438066, 438071, 438074-438091, 438105-438107, 438109, 438124-438132, 438144-438147, 438149-438151, 438153-438181, 438183-438186, 449029, 451336-451338, 451357-451358, 451360 (WINC). Description. Female. Body length 2.9-3.55 mm (n=20). Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: at least partially darker than scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long.

Oxyscelio obliquiatis
Comments. Oxyscelio obliquiatis is unusual within the flavipes-group in having a slightly expanded lateral carina of T1. However, all other features support its placement in the flavipes-group. The very strong oblique mesoscutellar rugae in females and granulate sculpture on the mesoscutellum in males, make this species relative easy to recognize. Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both dark brown. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long.
Male. Body length 3.3 mm (n=1). 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: Diagnosis. Both sexes: Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum black. Frontal depression shallow, transverse carinae absent or interrupted; submedian carina indicated by a set of irregular elevations or weak carinae. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by sharp carina. Occipital carina complete, convex medially. Mesoscutal midlobe with many fine longitudinal rugae posteriorly. Metascutellum deeply concave, broad and short, projecting dorsally. Coxa darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4, A5 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. T6 without metasomal flanges. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T6 or exceed metasomal apex. Male: A4, A11 longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach metasomal apex. T7 much broader than long, slightly concave apically, without posterior projections. Oxyscelio obturationis is very similar to O. scutorum, and in some specimens can have raised mesoscutellar sculpture similar to that species. However, the strong rows of longitudinal rugae and overall stouter body shape can help distinguish these species.
Etymology. Latin noun, genitive case, meaning "a plug." Refers to the compact, stout body shape.
Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter than pedicel; as long as pedicel. A4: longer than broad. A5: longer than broad.
Diagnosis. Both sexes: Frontal depression nearly parallel-sided, transverse carinae absent; submedian carina sharp. Hyperoccipital carina sharp and strong. Occipital carina incomplete, lateral portions almost reaching hyperoccipital carina; occiput smooth, with only a few setiferous puncta and fine rugae. Metascutellum with a small concave postero-medial area, laterally with broad longitudinally striate area, weakly emarginate, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein present. Coxa not darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina not expanded laterally. Female: A3 longer than pedicel. A4 longer than broad, A5 nearly as long as broad. Mesoscutellum nearly smooth, with a few setiferous puncta. T1 midlobe with 5 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach or exceed T6. Male: All flagellomeres longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 3 longitudinal carinae, hardly raised above sidelobes. Mesoscutellum with strong longitudinal rugae and no granulate sculpture. Fore wing long enough to reach to or beyond T7. T7 truncate, steeply sloping.
Comments. Oxyscelio oculi is part of a species complex characterized by a weakly developed T1 midlobe in males but vaulted T1 in females, a very smooth occiput, a short and convex mesoscutellum, and large eyes. Distinction between O. oculi and O. croci is chiefly based on mesoscutellar surface sculpture. Males in this complex but not fitting the above diagnosis occur, and are not currently assigned to species. These imply that undetected sibling species in this complex may exist. Description. Female. Body length 2.5-3.4 mm (n=18).
Diagnosis. Both sexes: Frontal depression shallow; transverse carinae present ventrally, interrupted; submedian carina very weak or absent medially. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina complete, broadly omicron-shaped medially. Metascutellum deeply 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 longer than broad, A5 almost as long as broad. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Main body of T6 not abruptly separated from apical rim, T6 slightly concave apically. Fore wing long enough to reach beyond metasomal apex. Male: All flagellomeres longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach beyond metasomal apex. T7 tiny, truncate. Oxyscelio palati is very similar to O. hyalinipennis, but differs in having an omicron-shaped occipital carina that has straight connections between the median and lateral portions. It also differs in having a longer antenna, especially in males, and in completely lacking a postmarginal vein. In O. hyalinipennis, the venation reaches the wing margin and has a more or less distinct posterior bend indicating the postmarginal vein, but in O. palati the venation does not quite reach the anterior wing margin. In known specimens of O. palati, the metanotum and posterior rim of the mesoscutellum are amber-colored, in stark contrast to the darker surrounding areas.
Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both dark brown. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: longer than broad. A5: broader than long.
Etymology. Latin noun, genitive case, meaning "thumb." Refers to the shape of the fore wing venation.
Link to distribution map. Comments. Oxyscelio pollicis is similar to some other species in the atricoxa-group, but it is also one of a set of melanistic species known from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Other melanistic species from this area include the concoloripes-group, and some additional melanistic species occur in Tasmania. It is unlikely that these melanistic species form a monophyletic group. Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: longer than broad. A5: longer than broad.
Ventral clypeal margin: with slightly convex median lobe. A4, A5 broader than long. T4, T5 with sharp posterior corners. T6 abruptly narrower than T5, without expanded lateral margins but with narrow and sharp elongate posterior metasomal flanges. Main surface of T6 strongly emarginate medially, sharply raised above apical rim. S6 not exposed to dorsal view. Male: A4, A11 broader than long. Mesoscutellum and mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly with small and densely set foveae, mesoscutellum without smooth area medially. T5, T6 with sharp posterior corners; T6, T7 abruptly narrower than preceding tergum. T7 with narrow and sharp postero-lateral lobes, deeply emarginate, truncate medially. Oxyscelio rami differs from O. caudarum and some other species in its stronger frontal depression sculpture and in a slightly different metascutellum and T6 apex.
Radicle color and shade: darker than scape; same as scape, both dark brown. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: shorter than pedicel; as long as pedicel. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long.
Ventral clypeal margin: with slightly convex median lobe. Diagnosis. Both sexes: Frontal depression shallow and broad, crossed by some carinae above dorsal separator; submedian carina weak and irregular. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by rugae. Occipital carina complete, weakly convex medially. Metascutellum subrectangular, deeply concave, slightly emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Coxa darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A3 not longer than pedicel. A4, A5, A6 broader than long. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae anteriorly or with a slight smooth bump obscuring them. Fore wing long enough to reach or exceed metasomal apex. T6 broader than long, blunt apically. Male: A3 not longer than pedicel. A4, A11 broader than long. Fore wing long enough to reach T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal midlobe carinae. T6 or to metasomal apex. T7 much broader than long, blunt apically, without posterior projections.  Gordh et al. 1979: 197 (reprint of Girault (1926 Comments. Oxyscelio solitarius belongs to the fossarum-group, which is much more speciose in Asia. This species group is characterized by the elongate sublateral depressions on T2-T3, which correspond with the lateral lobes of T1. Asian species of the fossarum-group differ from O. solitarius in having either extensive granulate mesoscutal and mesoscutellar sculpture, a sharply pointed T6, or in lacking the T1 anterior horn. Description. Female. Body length 2.5-3.5 mm (n=20).
Etymology. Latin noun in apposition, meaning "the dirty." Link to distribution map. Comments. Oxyscelio sordes is one of a few species of Oxyscelio with tibial spines. These may be difficult to see, as they are the same color as the tibia. It can also be recognized by the strong frontal depression, unusually sparse sculpture of females, and flattened T7 projections in males. Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both dark brown. Pedicel color: same as scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: longer than broad. A5: broader than long.

Oxyscelio spatulae
Ventral clypeal margin: with slightly convex median lobe. 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: with medially interrupted transverse carinae. Dorsal portion of frontal depression: with medially interrupted transverse carinae. Radicle color and shade: darker than scape. Pedicel color: at least partially darker than scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long.
Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. Pedicel color: same as scape; at least partially darker than scape. A3: shorter than pedicel. A4: broader than long. A5: broader than long.
Male. Body length 2.8 mm (n=1). A3: longer than pedicel. A5 tyloid shape: narrow, linear. A6: longer than broad. A11: broader than long. Major sculpture of mes- Comments. Oxyscelio verrucae is unusual in having a deep median impression on the mesoscutum, such that submedian areas apparently protrude. It is also unusual in having a large number of strong transverse rugae on the occiput, making it difficult to determine if the occipital carina is present medially or not. This species otherwise resembles O. concoloripes, and is provisionally placed in a group with it. Some specimens exist with a completely dark brown body, including antennae and legs. These are considered to be melanistic specimens of the same species. Description. Female. Body length 3.4-3.7 mm (n=2).

Oxyscelio viator
Radicle color and shade: same as scape, both yellowish or reddish. Pedicel color: at least partially darker than scape. A3: longer than pedicel. A4: longer than broad. A5: broader than long.
Ventral clypeal margin: with slightly convex median lobe. 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. Diagnosis. Both sexes: Frontal depression with broadly interrupted transverse carinae, including some above dorsal separator; submedian carina weakly indicated but complete. Hyperoccipital carina indicated by weak rugae. Occipital carina complete, weakly convex medially. Metascutellum deeply concave, emarginate apically, projecting dorsally. Postmarginal vein present, short. Coxa darker than rest of leg. T1 lateral carina expanded laterally. Metasomal flanges absent. Female: A4, A5 much broader than long. Mesoscutellum without granulate sculpture. Fore wing long enough to reach middle of T6 or beyond metasomal apex. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. T6 without metasomal flanges, main body of tergum not separated from apical rim, strongly sloping apically but not concave. Male: A4 broader than long, A11 slightly longer than broad. T1 midlobe with 4 longitudinal carinae. Fore wing long enough to reach beyond metasomal apex. T7 tiny, truncate apically. Oxyscelio wa is very similar to O. nigricoxa and in some ways to O. hyalinipennis, but differs in having a shorter A4 and A5 in females, and in having a postmarginal vein in combination with a truncate T7 in males. Known specimens of O. wa also have dark coxae, which does not occur in O. hyalinipennis. The fore wing venation is at most slightly separated from the anterior wing margin, which aids in distinguishing this species from O. nigricoxa, a species where the venation does not closely approach the anterior wing margin.
Etymology. Arbitrary combination of letters, does not change spelling to agree with gender.
Link to distribution map.