Baeus hallarakeri, Stevens, 2007

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 : 19-20

4. Baeus hallarakeri, Stevens , sp. nov.

(Figs 7B, 8E & F, 15B)

Holotype: ♀, Tasmania, ' 41.19S 147.56E, Intake Bridge , 13-29. Jan. 1983, Tas., I. D. Naumann & J. C. Cardale, ex pantrap' ( ANIC).

Paratypes: Tasmania: 2 ♀♀, same data as holotype ( ANIC) 3 ♀♀, 42.12S 146.30E, 9 km S Bronte Park , 15.i-3.ii.1983, I. D. Naumann & J. C. Cardale, ex pantrap ( ANIC) ; 1 ♀, 41.22S 147.24E, 10 km ENE of Nunamara , 12.i-6.ii.1983, I. D. Naumann & J. C. Cardale, ex pantrap ( ANIC) ; 1 ♀, 42.10S 146.10E, 7 km SW by W Derwent Bridge , 16.i-2.ii.1983, I. D. Naumann & J. C. Cardale, ex pantrap ( ANIC) .

Description. Female. Mean length 0.60 mm (0.58-0.62; n = 5); body and head brown, legs and antennae generally same as body and head but with lighter markings on ventral surfaces and apical areas of each segment.

Head. 1.83 (1.80-1.87) x as wide as inter-ocular distance, 1.85 (1.80-1.93) x as wide as long; medial ocellus10 µm in diameter, 59 (50-65) µm from posterior head margin; lateral ocelli 3 (0-5) µm from eye margin, 20 µm from posterior head margin; posterior ocellar line equal to inter-ocular distance; vertex coriarious, pilosity mostly dense along posterior margin, moderately dense elsewhere, of medium length overall; eyes ovoid, eye height 0.53 (0.52-0.57) head height, eye width 0.46 (0.43-0.50) x eye length, pilosity of medium length; frontal carina usually not reaching 0.5 or more distance to medial ocellus (0.37-0.52); cristulations on malar region not extending to within 10 µm of eye margin; in postero-lateral view, anterior and posterior genal margins varying from parallel to divergent medially; anterior genal margin in contact with 0.70 of ventral eye margin length; posterior eye margin touching hyperoccipital carina.

Mesosoma. Length 0.75 (0.73-0.79) x width; both mesoscutum and mesoscutellum coriarious, pilosity moderately dense except anterior region of mesoscutum which is dense, of medium length overall; medio-dorsally, propodeum may be glabrous, plicate, or intermediate between the two; mesoscutum length 0.56 (0.56- 0.58) x width, 0.68 (0.67-0.69) x mesosoma length and 3.27 (2.86-3.67) x mesoscutellum length; mesoscutellum length 1.82 (1.50-2.00) x propodeum length; sculpturing dorsal mesopleuron and dorso-lateral propodeum confused; propodeal spiracle small and ovoid; posterior suture of metapleuron curved slightly medially, extending dorsally above level of antero-lateral margin of T2; posterior margin metapleuron elevated from anterior region of propodeum; hind femoral spine absent.

Metasoma. T2 length 1.0 (0.93-1.00) x width, faintly coriarious, pilosity dense in patches along anterior margin, but mostly moderately dense except towards posterior region which is sparse, setae of medium length overall; T3 smooth and nitid, bearing one row of setae; T4 glabrous.

Comments. Baeus hallarakeri is similar to B. glenysae , B. murphyi and B. mymyae , the most obvious difference being its larger eyes.

This species is known only from Tasmania (Fig 15B).

Baeus hallarakeri is named in honour of Torstein Hallaraker, Senior, of Norway.