Baeus mymyae, 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 : 32-33

12. Baeus mymyae, Stevens , sp. nov.

(Figs 12B, 16B)

Holotype, ♀, Queensland, ' 11.45S 142.35E, Heathlands , 23 May-18 June 1993, Flight Intercept Trap, P. Zborowski & I. Naumann ' ( ANIC).

Paratypes: Queensland: 1 ♀, Bald Hill, McIlwraith Range , 13.43S 143.19E, 27.vi-12.vii.1989, I. Naumann, ( ANIC) ; 6 ♀♀, Heathlands Research Reserve , 11.51S 142.38E, 22.iii-25.iv.1992, T. McLeod, 22.x-22.xi.1992, P. Zborowski & A. Calder ( ANIC) ; Western Australia: 2 ♀♀, Mitchell Plateau , 14.49S 125.50E, 9-19.v.1983, I. Naumann & J. Cardale ( ANIC) .

Description. Female. Mean length 0.49 mm (0.47-0.52; n = 5); body and head brown, legs and antennae lighter.

Head. 1.97 (1.92-2.00) x as wide as inter-ocular distance and 1.63 (1.53-1.92) x as wide as long; medial ocellus 10 µm in diameter, 52 (50-60) µm from posterior head margin; lateral ocelli very close to eye margin (<5 µm) but not touching, 10 µm from posterior head margin; posterior ocellar line = inter-ocular distance; vertex imbricate, pilosity dense and mostly of medium length, can be short in patches; eyes sub-triangular in shape, eye height 0.43 (0.41-0.45) x head height, eye width 0.51 (0.50-0.60) x length, pilosity medium length; frontal carina reaching 0.59 (0.53-0.69) distance to medial ocellus; cristulations of malar region distinct and 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 0.67 (0.60-0.73) of ventral eye margin length; posterior eye margin touching hyperoccipital carina.

Mesosoma. Length 0.71 (0.61-0.81) x width; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum imbricate, pilosity generally dense, but can be of moderate density in areas, and of medium length overall; medio-dorsally, propodeum glabrate; mesoscutum length 0.52 (0.44-0.57) x width, 0.65 (0.62-0.67) x mesosoma length and 2.60 (2.33- 2.67) x mesoscutellum length; mesoscutellum length 2.7 (1.5-3.0) x propodeum length; sculpturing of dorsal mesopleuron scrobiculate, sculpturing ending dorsal or ventral to level of dorsal margin of metapleuron; sculpturing of propodeum anterior to spiracle confused, region posterior to spiracle carinulate, more often with two distinct carina running posteriorly from dorsal and ventral margins of propodeal spiracle, or less often, with only one carinae beginning from dorsal margin of spiracle; propodeal spiracle opening tear-drop shape; dorsal propodeum not delineated from lateral propodeum by distinct, laterally projecting carina, instead dorso-lateral propodeum rounded; metapleuron relatively broad, posterior margin straight and short, ending ventral to level of antero-lateral margin of T2, medio-posterior margin level with anterior margin of lateral propodeum; hind femoral spine absent.

Metasoma. T2 length 0.93 (0.89-0.95) x width, sculpturing gradating from coriarious anteriorly to smooth posteriorly; pilosity gradating anterior to posterior, from dense to sparse, medium in length; T3 and T4 glabrous.

Comments. This species appears similar to B. hallarakeri , B. glenysae and B. murphyi (see Comments under these species).

It is recorded from Cape York Peninsula and the Kimberlys (Fig. 16B). However, only a few specimens from the top end of the Northern Territory have been examined in this study. Further collecting from this region is required to reveal if the distribution of B. mymyae is disjunct or continuous throughout the northern monsoonal regions of Australia.

This species is named after Ms My-my Huynh.