Quartinia namibensis, 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 : 12-14

Quartinia namibensis sp. n. Figs 35-41

Holotype

♀, NAMIBIA: Sperrgebiet, Klinghardtberge, Tsabiam’s Camp (27.10S, 15.42E), 4.ix.2002 (F. W. and S. K. Gess) [AMG].

Paratypes.

NAMIBIA: Sperrgebiet, Klinghardtberge, Nomitsas (27.27S, 15.52E), 31.viii.2002 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Grielum sinuatum Licht. ex Burch., Neuradaceae ) [AMG]; NAMIBIA: Diamond Area 1: Roter Kamm (27.46S, 16.18E), 25-30.vi.1989 (C. S. Roberts), 2 ♂♂ [♂ NNIC; ♂ AMG].

Diagnosis.

Large (4.8-5.4 mm). Fore wing with Cu1a and 2 m-cu complete and as thick as the other veins. Tegula whitish-yellow (other than for testaceous median area), with posterior inner corner inwardly produced and acute. Mesosoma and gaster black, richly marked with whitish-yellow. Metanotum of both sexes whitish-yellow. Male with striking and unique, long, pale, apically curved setae on ventral surface of flagellomeres 1-7, on labrum and on distal third of clypeus.

Description.

Female ( Figs 35, 37, 39 ): Black. The following are various shades of whitish-yellow: underside of antenna; medially interrupted band on anterior margin of pronotum, carried down to and expanded in humeral area, and narrowly extended along hind margin to postero-dorsal angle; tegula (other than for testaceous median area); tri-lobed curved band on disk of scutellum (leaving a bi-lobed black basal area); entire scutellar lamella; metanotum; ill-defined small area dorsally on propodeum (in paratype only); posterior bands attaining sides and somewhat anteriorly widened medially and laterally on terga I - V. Reddish yellow are: narrow subapical posterior bands on sterna II - V; median part of mandible; apex of femur, tibia (except dark brown streak on fore tibia) and tarsus of all legs. Upper surface of antenna dark reddish-brown; wings sub-hyaline; stigma and veins light brown.

Length 5.4 mm; length of fore wing 3.6 mm; hamuli 4.

Head in front view 1.35 × as wide as long. POL: OOL = 1: 0.55. Clypeus, frons and vertex microreticulate (shagreened) with dense, small, shallow punctures (barely discernable on clypeus and lower half of frons, obvious on upper half of frons and on vertex).

Thorax semi-matt, distinctly microreticulate (shagreened) and punctured; punctures larger and more clearly defined than on head; interstices varying from less than puncture width to more than double puncture width. Tegula with posterior inner corner inwardly produced and acute. Fore wing with Cu1a and 2 m-cu complete and as thick as the other veins.

Gaster moderately shiny, with small, indistinct punctures.

Male ( Figs 36, 38, 40, 41 ): Black.The following are various shades of whitish-yellow: antenna (except narrow ferruginous mark dorsally on scape, pedicel and proxi mal flagellomeres); mandible; labrum; clypeus; paraocular area (streak carried narrowly upwards from mandibular insertion into lower half of ocular sinus where slightly widened); large, median, dorsally bi-lobed marking on frons (extending from clypeo-frontal suture to level of top of ocular sinus); band on anterior margin of pronotum, carried down to and expanded in humeral area, and narrowly extended along hind margin to postero-dorsal angle; tegula (other than for testaceous median area); transverse, postero-median spot on scutellum; entire scutellar lamella; metanotum; posterior bands attaining sides and slightly anteriorly widened medially and laterally on terga I - VI. Reddish-yellow are: apex of femur, tibia (except dark brown streak on fore tibia) and tarsus of all legs. Wings sub-hyaline; stigma and veins light brown.

Length circa 4.8 mm; length of fore wing 3.1 mm; hamuli 4.

Head in front view 1.4 × as wide as long; POL: OOL = 1: 0.6.

Surface sculpture of head, thorax and gaster as in female. Tegula as in female. Flagellomeres 1-7 ventrally, labrum, clypeus on distal third with long, pale, apically curved setae; length of setae on antennae approximating or exceeding width of proximal flagellomeres, that of setae on clypeus longer. Tergum VII somewhat depressed, apico-medially with a V-shaped slit; lobes flanking slit rounded. Sterna atuberculate. Parameres rounded apically, without a tooth.

Etymology.

The name, Quartinia namibensis , an adjective, is derived from the Namib Desert, and refers to the provenance of the species.

Geographic distribution.

Known only from the Sperrgebiet (Diamond Area 1) of Namibia, that is from the Desert and Succulent Steppe (Winter rainfall area) of Giess (1971).

Floral associations.

Grielum sinuatum Licht. ex Burch.( Neuradaceae ).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Discussion.

The two females from Nomitsas and Tsabiam’s Camp (both localities in the Klinghardtberge) and the two males from Roter Kamm (below and south-west of the Aurusberg) are here associated on the basis of general similarity, allowance being made for secondary sexual differences. The association requires confirmation by the study of material of both sexes found flying together in one or more localities.

Figures

Figures 35 - 41. Quartinia namibensis 35 ♀, lateral view (x 10) 36 ♂, lateral view (x 12) 37 ♀, dorsal view (x 10) 38 ♂, dorsal view (x 12) 39 ♀, head, front view (x 14) 40 ♂, head, front view (x 16) 41 ♂, tergum VII, dorsal view (x 12).