Baeus saliens (Hickman)

Stevens, N. B. & Austin, A. D., 2007, Systematics, distribution and biology of the Australian ' micro-flea' wasps, Baeus spp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae): parasitoids of spider eggs., Zootaxa 1499, pp. 1-45 : 35

15. Baeus saliens (Hickman)

(Figs 12E & F, 16D)

Aneurobaeus saliens Hickman , 1967: 16. Baeus saliens : Austin, 1981: 89; Johnson, 2004.

Holotype, ♀, ' Tasmania, New Town , xi.1966 - i.1967, V. V. Hickman'; ' Ex: eggs Microctenonyx subitaneous (Camb.) ' ( ANIC).

Paratypes: New South Wales: 1 ♀, Taree , 3 km N, 7.ix.-25.x.1987, G. Williams ( WINC) ; Tasmania: 4 ♀♀, on same slide, same data as holotype ( ANIC) .

Other material examined: Tasmania: 1 ♀, same data as holotype ( WINC) ; New Zealand: 1 ♀ AK Huia , iv.1981, B.M. May, malaise traps ( NZAC) .

Description. Female. Length 0.56 mm; body and head brown, legs and antennae lighter, both with darker markings on dorsal surfaces.

Head. 1.71 x as wide as inter-ocular distance, and 1.6 x as wide as long; medial ocellus 10 µm in diameter, 70 µm from posterior head margin; lateral ocelli 20 µm from eye margin and posterior head margin; posterior ocellar line 0.93 x inter-ocular distance; vertex coriarious anteriorly to imbricate posteriorly, pilosity dense and of medium length; eyes small and sub-triangular in shape, eye height 0.39 x head height, eye width 0.45 x length, pilosity long; frontal carina reaching 0.67 distance to medial ocellus; malar region mostly cristulate, cristulations reaching to within 10 µm of eye margin; in postero-lateral view, anterior and posterior genal margins parallel medially; anterior genal margin in contact with 0.73 of ventral eye margin length; posterior eye margin touching hyperoccipital carina.

Mesosoma. Length 0.68 x width; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum imbricate, pilosity mostly dense, can be of moderate density in patches, and of medium length; propodeum glabrate medio-dorsally; mesoscutum length 0.5 x width, 0.62 x mesosoma length and 2.67 x mesoscutellum length; mesoscutellum 1.5 x length of propodeum; sculpturing of dorsal mesopleuron and propodeum anterior to spiracle confused, region of lateral propodeum posterior of spiracle bearing short carinae, each with a bristle posteriorly, lateral region posterior of carinae glabrate; propodeal spiracle opening small and round; dorso-lateral propodeum without distinct, laterally projecting carina, instead is rounded; posterior margin of metapleuron obscure, appears to end well ventral to level of antero-lateral margin of T2, posterior margin level with anterior margin of lateral propodeum; depression present on medio-posterior region of metapleuron; hind femoral spine absent.

Metasoma. T2 length 0.71 x width, sculpturing gradating from imbricate anteriorly, to coriarious then smooth posteriorly; pilosity is dense anteriorly, but gradating to moderate density posteriorly, and of medium length overall; posterior margin ending dorsal to level of ventral margin of pronotum; both T3 and T4 mostly smooth, T3 bearing two rows of setae of moderate density and medium length, T4 bearing only one row.

Biology. The type series was reared from the eggs of Microctenonyx subitaneous (Cambridge) ( Linyphiidae ) at Hobart, Tasmania (Hickman 1967).

Comments. The notable features of B. saliens are its densely pilose dorsal surfaces, the posterior margin of the metapleuron being obscure, and the deep depression present in the medio-posterior area of the metapleuron.

This species has a disjunt distribution, being found in Tasmania, along the central east coast of Australia(Fig. 16D), and in the North Island of New Zealand. Further collecting in south-eastern Australia, particularly Victoria may uncover a wider distribution for B. saliens in that region.