Quartinia setaria, Gess, 2011

Gess, Friedrich W., 2011, The genus Quartinia Ed. Andre, 1884 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) in Southern Africa. Part IV. New and little known species with complete venation, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 21, pp. 1-39 : 21-22

Quartinia setaria sp. n. Figs 63-69

Quartinia sp. G. ( Gess and Gess 2003: 67, flower visiting.)

Holotype

♀, SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Namaqualand, Sors Sors, 9 km NE of Kamieskroon (30.08S, 18.01E), 17.ix.1992 (F. W. and S. K. Gess) (on violet fls of Wahlenbergia sp.) [AMG].

Paratypes.

SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Namaqualand, Springbok, Hester Malan Nature Res[erve] [now Goegap Nature Reserve]] (29.37S, 18.00E), 10-11.x.1989 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting fls of Wahlenbergia pilosa Buek [on label as Wahlenbergia cf. prostrata A. DC.], Campanulaceae ); Namaqualand, Springbok, Goegap [Nature Reserve], windmill [site] (29.37S, 17.59E), 4-8.x.1994 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ (on/in light violet fls of Wahlenbergia oxyphylla A. DC.); Namaqualand, Sors Sors, 9 km NE of Kamieskroon (30.08S, 18.01E), 17.ix.1992 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ (on violet fls of Wahlenbergia sp.); Namaqualand, Groenekloof, 7.5 km SE of Leliefontein (30.21S, 18.07E), 13.ix.1992 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♂ - [all AMG].

Diagnosis.

Medium sized (3.7-4.3 mm). Fore wing with Cu1a and 2 m-cu complete and as thick as other veins. Both sexes with tegula yellowish white (other than for ferruginous median area), with posterior inner corner inwardly produced and acute; with head and mesosoma strikingly shiny, without micro sculpturing (shagreening); with head, pronotum, mesoscutum and scutellum with very obvious, mostly porrect, setae; with frons flat or even slightly depressed; clypeus markedly convexly raised; occiput markedly transversely depressed; head, pronotum, mesonotum, mesopleuron and propodeum without any pale markings. Male with tergum VII with only a small median emargination on apical margin (that is lacking a median slit); sterna atuberculate.

Description.

Female ( Figs 63, 65, 67 ): Black. The following are yellowish white: lower surface of scape, pedicel and at least some flagellomeres (if not light ferruginous); tegula (other than for ferruginous median area); scutellar lamella laterally; narrow posterior bands not reaching sides on terga I - IV; apex of femur of all legs; base or more of tibia of fore leg; most of dorsal surface of middle tibia; base of hind tibia. Various shades of ferruginous are: upper surface of scape, pedicel and intermediate flagellomeres and lower surface of same (if not yellowish white); distal half of mandible; tegula medially; coxa, trochanter, femur, parts of tibia, tarsomeres of all legs; terga postero-laterally (including ends of posterior bands); sterna. Wings very lightly browned; veins brown.

Length 3.8-4.3 mm (average of 3: 4.0 mm); length of fore wing 2.6-2.8 mm (average of 3: 2.7 mm); hamuli 5.

Head in front view 1.2 × as wide as long; frons remarkably flat, medially even slightly depressed; POL: OOL = 1: 0.9; occiput markedly transversely depressed. Frons and vertex strikingly shiny, without microreticulation (shagreening) but with regular, small punctures separated by circa puncture width and set with obvious, fine, mostly porrect setae. Narrow area on midline of frons of holotype and one of paratypes without punctures and setae. Clypeus 1.6 × as wide as long, noticeably convexly raised, moderately shiny, with semi-confluent, small punctures and some limited microreticulation on interstices, with setation as on frons; anterior margin with a very shallow V-shaped emargination; antero-lateral angles very narrowly rounded.

Mesosoma strikingly shiny, without microreticulation; punctures a little larger than on head; setation on pronotum and mesonotum similar to that on head but that on scutellum shorter.

Gaster moderately shiny, with small, close punctures and noticeable, posteriorly decumbent, short, fine setae.

Male ( Figs 64, 66, 68, 69 ): Black. Yellowish-white markings and ferruginous areas as in female (except that tergum V has an indication of a short posterior band).

Length 3.7 mm; length of fore wing 2.6 mm; hamuli 4.

Head in front view 1.3 × as wide as long; POL: OOL = 1: 0.9. Clypeus 1.6 × as wide as long.

Puncturation and setation of head, mesosoma and gaster as in female.

Tergum VII with only a small median emargination on apical margin (that is lacking a median slit); sterna atuberculate.

Etymology.

The name setaria serves to draw attention to the very noticeable porrect setae on the head and thorax.

Geographic distribution.

As far as can be judged, restricted to the part of Namaqualand termed Klipkoppe, the collecting localities being sited in the Namaqualand BrokenVeld and the Mountain Renosterbosveld of Acocks (1953).

Floral associations.

Wahlenbergia spp. ( Campanulaceae ).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Figures

Figures 63 - 69. Quartinia setaria 63 ♀, lateral view (x 14) 64 ♂, lateral view (x 13) 65 ♀, dorsal view (x 13) 66 ♂, dorsal view (x 13) 67 ♀, head, front view (x 20) 68 ♂, head, front view (x 22) 69 ♂, tergum VII, dorsal view (x 26).