Baeus leai Dodd

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 : 23-25

7. Baeus leai Dodd

(Figs 3A, 5B, 6D, 7D, 9E & F, 15C)

Baeus leai Dodd , 1914: 73; Kieffer, 1926: 147, 150; Austin, 1981: 89; Johnson 2004.

Holotype, [[female]], ‘ Sydney , [A. M.] Lea ’ ( SAM). [Head and forelegs mounted on slide]

Other material examined. Queensland: 2 [[females]], Bunya Mountains , 15.iv.1927, A.P. Dodd ( ANIC) ; 5 [[females]], Mt Tamborine , xi.1978-iii.1979, 6-17.iii.1981, 16-30.I.1982, 21.ii-29.iii.1984 ( QDPC) ; 1 [[female]], Rex Range lookout via Julatten , 9.xi-2.xii.1981, Storey ( QDPC) ; 2 [[females]], 16 km up Davies Creek Rd, via Mareeba , 4-13.iii.1983, Storey & Titmarsh ( QDPC) ; 4 [[females]], Windsor Tablelands via Mt Carbine , 12.xi-26.xii.1983, Storey, Walford & Huggins ( ANIC) ; 7 [[females]], Windsor Tablelands via Mt Carbine , 26.xii.1983-24.i.1984, Storey & Halfpapp ( QDPC) ; 1 [[female]], Hugh Nelson Range, 31 km S of Atherton , 31.xii.1983, R.I. Storey ( QDPC) ; 7 [[females]], Hugh Nelson Range, 21 km S of Atherton , 1xii.1983-9i.1984, 9.i-10.ii.1984, 12.x-5.xi.1989, Storey & Brown ( QDPC) ; 11 [[females]], Mt Glorious N.P. , 28.ii-9.iii.1984, L. Masner ( CNC) , 1 [[female]], Mt Glorious N.P. , 3i-4.ii.1989, H. Howden ( CNC) ; 1 [[female]], Indooroopilly , 28.ii-9.iii.1984, L. Masner ( CNC) ; 12 [[females]], Lake Eacham , 17.17S 145.39E, 15ii- 16.iii.1988, 29.iii-31.v.1988, D.C.F. Rentz ( ANIC) ; 1 [[female]], 27.57S 153.11E, Guanaba Shelf, Tamborine Mountain , xii.1992-i.1993, K.J. Lambkin ( ANIC) ; 10 [[females]], Hugh Nelson Range , 17.27S 145.29E, 3i-4.ii.1995, 6iii- 4.iv.1995, P. Zborowski ( ANIC) ; 3 [[females]], Massey Creek , 17.37S 145.34E, 3.i-4.ii.1995, 4.ii -6.iii.1995, P. Zborowski ( ANIC) ; 8 [[females]], Longlands Gap , 17.28S 145.29E, 3i-4.iii.1995, 4iv-2.v.1995, P. Zborowski ( ANIC) ; 1 [[female]], Hugh Nelson Road , 17.27S 145.29E, 6iii-4.iv.1995, P. Zborowski ( ANIC) ; 2 [[females]], Brisbane Forest Park , 27.25.04S 152.49.48E, 4-11.iii.1998, & 11-17.iv.1998, N. Power, malaise trap ( CNC) ; 1 [[female]], Main Range National Park , 28.03.01S 152.23.59E, 9.xii.2002, Owen, George, Munro, sweeping ( CNC) ; 1 [[female]], Great Sandy National Park , 26.00.95S 153.01.32E, 15-16.xii.2002, J. Munro, yellow pan trap ( CNC) ; 1 [[female]], Great Sandy National Park , 25.00.62S 153.02.80E, 16-17.xii.2002, J. Munro, A. Owen, yellow pan trap ( CNC) ; New South Wales: 2 [[females]], Fitzroy Falls , 31.i.1968 ( ANIC) ; 1 [[female]], Victoria Park via Alstonville , 25.xii.1974- 22.iii.1975, G.B. & S.R. Monteith ( QDPC) ; 6 [[females]], Pearl Beach , 7.i.1979, A.D. Austin, reared series ( WINC) ; 1 [[female]], Beaury State Forest , 28.29S 152.23E, 15-17.ii.1983, T. Weir & A. Calder ( ANIC) ; 7 [[female]], Macquarie Pass , 34.34S 150.40E, 8.II.1984, I.D. Naumann ( ANIC) ; 1 [[female]], Ben Boyd N.P., Bittangabee nr Green Cape , 16-19.ii.1984, J. Lawrence ( ANIC) ; 12 [[females]], Mt Wog Wog , 37.04S 149.28E, ii.1987, C.R Margules ( ANIC) ; 1 [[female]], Kosciuszko National Park , 35.54.9S 148.37.3E, 26-28.xi.2002, George et al. yellow pan trap ( CNC) ; Australian Capital Territory: 34 [[females]], 1 [[male]], Canberra , 1.vi.1946, ex. eggs Caelaenia sp. (bird dung spider; Araneae) ( ANIC, WINC) ; 28 [[females]], 1 [[male]], 15.iii.1950, E.F. Riek ( ANIC, WINC) ; 6 [[females]], Mt Majura , 14.xii.1969, 6.i.1970, C.G. Brooks ( ANIC) ; 2 [[females]], Black Mountain , 2.vi.1970, J. Simmons ( ANIC) ; 1 [[female]], Mt Ainslie , 11.viii.1970, C. Taplin ( ANIC) ; 3 [[females]], Wombat Creek , 35.19S, 148.51E, IV.1985, J. Lawrence, T. Weir & M.L. Johnson ( ANIC) ; 4 [[females]], Piccadilly Circus , 35.22S, 148.48E, V.1986, J. Lawrence, T. Weir, & M.L. Johnson ( ANIC) ; Victoria: 1 [[female]], Greensborough , 29.ii.1961 ( ANIC) ; Tasmania: 13 [[females]], Hobart , 4.i.1951, E.F. Riek ( ANIC) ; 1 [[female]], Bird River, Launceston , 41.14S 147.28E, 3.ii.1973, E. Britton ( ANIC) ; 2 [[females]], Barrow Creek , 41.21S 147.22E, 12.i- 6.ii.1983, I.D. Naumann & J.C. Cardale ( ANIC) ; South Australia: 1 [[female]], Port Davenport, York Penninsula , 26.iii.1979, D. Morgan ( WINC) ; 4 [[females]], Wistow , iv-v.1988, A.D.Austin ( WINC) ; 3 [[females]], Mt Barker Summit , 18.i- 4.ii.1996, M. Iqbal & A.D. Austin ( WINC) ; Western Australia: 3 [[females]], Perth , 30km E, 24-28.xii.1986, J.S. Noyes ( WINC) ; 1 [[female]], Fitzgerald River N.P, Quaalup area , 5-9.i.1987, J.S. Noyes ( BMNH) ; 2 [[females]], Stirling Range N.P. , 11-15.i.1987, J.S. Noyes ( WINC) ; 3 [[females]], Narnahop N.P, Walpole , 17-21.i.1987, J.S. Noyes ( BMNH) ; 7 [[females]], Bold Park , 31.57S 115.46E, 20.v.-20.vii.1993, 24.ix-18.xi.1993, 19.xi.1993-6i.1994, J.M. Waldock, K. Goodsell & J. Webb ( WINC) , 9 [[females]], Bold Park , 31.57S 115.46E 6i-18.iii.1994, 18.iii-19.v.1994, M.S. Harvey & J.M. Waldock ( WAMP, WINC) ; 1 [[female]], Perth Airport , 31.59S 115.58E, 10.v-24.vi.1993, 6.i- 18.iii.1994, 18.iii -19.v. 1994, M.S. Harvey & J.M. Waldock ( WAMP, WINC) ; 3 [[females]], Perth Airport , 31.59S 115.58E, 10.v-24.vi.1993, 18.xi.1993-6i.1994, J. Waldock, K. Goodsell, J. Webb ( WAMP) ; 1 [[female]], Tuart Hill , 31.53S 115.52E, 18.xii.1993-7.i.1994, J.M. Waldock ( WAMP) ; 3 [[females]], Stirling Range National Park, Salt River & Redgum Pass roads , 34.18.79S 117.17.59E, 21-22.xi.2002, yellow pan traps, J. George, J. Munro, A. Owen ( CNC) ; 1 [[female]], Carter’s Rd nr. Margaret River , 33.56.12S 115.03.94E, 15-16.xi.2002, yellow pan trap, George, Hawks, ( CNC) ; Lord Howe Island : 2 [[females]] S. & J. Peck, 17-31.v.1980. ( CNC) ; Norfolk Island: Sp 3. 8 [[females]] 29.01 S 167.57 E, Filmy Fern Walk, NINP , 14.xi-2.xii.1984, T.A. Weir. 2nd Flight intercept window/trough trap. ( ANIC) ; 1 [[female]] 29.01 S 167.57 E, Red Rd, Tr. NINP , 14.xi-2.xii.1984, T.A. Weir. 2nd Flight intercept window/ trough trap. ( ANIC) ; 1 [[female]] 29.01 S 167.56 E, South Spur Track (bottom) NINP , 14.xi-2.xii.1984, T.A. Weir. 2nd Flight intercept window/trough trap. ( ANIC) ; 4 [[females]] Palm Glen 1.xii.1979, G.B. Monteith, pyrethum knockdown. ( QDPI) ; New Zealand: 1 [[female]] Lynfield , 18.iv.1981, G. Kuschel. Malaise trap ( NZAC) ; 1 [[female]] Mt Albert Research Centre , 13.ii.1977, A.K. Walker. ( NZAC) ; 1 [[female]] Rotorua, Forest Research Institute , ii.1981, J. Bain, Malaise trap. ( NZAC) ; 4 [[females]] North Island, Coromandel Peninsula, 10 km E. Thames , 22-29.i.1999, yellow pan trap, S.A. Marshell ( NZAC) .

Description. Female. Mean length 1.09 mm (1.00-1.24; n = 10); body and head dark red brown, sometimes almost black, both legs and antennae brown with darker markings on dorsal surfaces.

Head. 2.03 (1.88-2.21) x as wide as inter-ocular distance and 1.99 (1.80-2.27) x as wide as long; medial ocellus 15 µm in diameter, 96 (80-120) µm from posterior head margin; lateral ocelli 5 µm from eye margin, 18 (10-20) µm from posterior head margin; posterior ocellar line 1.21 (1.14-1.37) x inter-ocular distance; vertex coriarious, pilosity generallyof sparse density, but can be of moderate density in areas, mostly short in length, but if setae do qualify as medium length then usually only just; i.e. mostly within 10-15 µm range, not exceeding 20 µm, except for some Norfolk Island specimens whose pilosity is mostly of medium length often exceeding 20 µm; eyes large and ovoid, eye height 0.53 (0.47-0.56) x head height, eye width 0.53 (0.44-0.62) x eye length, pilosity short; frontal carina often reaching 0.5 distance to medial ocellus; cristulations of malar region often extending to within 10 µm of eye margin; in postero-lateral view, anterior and posterior genal margins usually parallel medially, but may be marginally divergent; anterior genal margin in contact with 0.60 (0.50-0.77) of ventral eye margin length; posterior eye margin touching hyperoccipital carina.

Mesosoma. Length 0.62 (0.55-0.67) x width; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum coriarious, pilosity varies from sparse to moderately dense, for most specimens, the setae are mixture of short and medium length, but if medium in length then usually only just; i.e. within 10-15 µm range, not exceeding 20 µm, except some Norfolk Island specimens that exhibit a mixture of medium to long setae; medio-dorsally, propodeum glabrous; mesoscutum length 0.42 (0.38-0.47) x width, 0.65 (0.58-0.68) x mesosoma length and 3.23 (2.33-4.25) x mesoscutellum length; mesoscutellum length 1.5 (1.0-2.5) x propodeum length; sculpturing dorsal mesopleuron distinctly scrobiculate, ending adjacent to or slightly ventral of dorsal margin of metapleuron; sculpturing of propodeum anterior to spiracle scrobiculate, region posterior to spiracle generally smooth, but may be faintly carinulate; ventral to spiracle is distinct crescent shaped ridge running from ventral margin of spiracle to lateral posterior margin of propodeum, enclosed by ridge are varying number of faint carina bearing hairs posteriorly; propodeal spiracle small and tear-drop shaped; posterior margin of metapleuron curving dorsomedially, dorsal extent of suture equal to level of antero-lateral margin of T2; hind femoral spine reduced.

Metasoma. T2 length equal to width, posterior margin extending ventrally to below level of ventral margin of pronotum, sculpturing coriarious, pilosity sparse and mixture of short and medium length, if setae medium in length then only just; i.e. mostly within 10-15 µm range, not exceeding 20 µm, except for some Norfolk Island specimens whose pilosity is mostly of medium length, often exceeding 20 µm and even long in patches; T3 and T4 coriarious anteriorly with wide, smooth bands along posterior margins, T3 bearing one row of setae.

Description. Male. Mean length 1.05 mm (0.94-1.16; n = 2).

Head. 1.55 (1.50-1.61) x as wide as inter-ocular distance and 2.4 (2.25-2.5) x as wide as long; medial ocellus 17 µm in diameter, 104.5 (99-110) µm from posterior head margin; lateral ocelli 17 µm from eye margin, 44 (33-55) µm from posterior head margin; posterior ocellar line 1.0 (0.97-1.1) x inter-ocular distance; eyes ovoid, eye height 0.59 (0.56-0.61) x head height; frontal carina reaching greater than 0.5 of distance to medial ocellus; in postero-lateral view, anterior and posterior genal margins convergent medially; anterior genal margin in contact with the entire length of the ventral eye margin; posterior eye margin more than 40 µm from hyperoccipital carina.

Mesosoma. Length 1.03 x width; mesoscutum length 0.73 x width, 0.63 x mesosoma length; propodeal spiracle small and round; hind femoral spine reduced.

Metasoma. T1 transverse, length 0.24 x width; T2 length 0.6 x width.

Biology. This species has been reared from the eggs of a Celaenia sp. ( Araneidae ), commonly referred to as the ‘bird dung’ spider, in the Canberra area, ACT, and Araneus sp. (Austin 1985; Table 2).

Comments. Baeus leai is a large species with a very compact mesosoma and long metasoma. The distinctive feature of this species is the crescent-shaped ridge on the dorso-lateral propodeum beginning from the ventral margin of the spiracle (Fig. 7D, 9E).

Baeus leai is the most widespread and commonly collected member of the genus (Fig 15C).