Quartinia aliyevi Fateryga, Mauss, Proshchalykin & Maharramov, 2025

Fateryga, Alexander V., Mauss, Volker, Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu. & Maharramov, Mahir M., 2025, Taxonomic review of the pollen wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae) from the Caucasus, with the description of two new species, new nest and flower-visiting records, and a key to the species, Zootaxa 5716 (4), pp. 514-540 : 527-531

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5716.4.3
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6571B888-23E0-4A9D-88CC-8DA7D4809576
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B187DC-FFCB-FFD7-FF39-87E0FD2BFA9D
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Quartinia aliyevi Fateryga, Mauss, Proshchalykin & Maharramov
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Quartinia aliyevi Fateryga, Mauss, Proshchalykin & Maharramov , sp. nov.

( Figs 6 View FIGURE 6 , 7 View FIGURE 7 )

Quartinia sp. : Fateryga et al. 2021: 39, ♀.

Diagnosis. The species is closely related to Quartinia araxana Giordani Soika, 1960 , Q. cretica Gusenleitner, 1994 , Q. libanica Richards, 1964 , and Q. soikai Richards, 1964 . Both the female and the male of Q. aliyevi can be distinguished from those of Q. araxana by their larger size (total body length about 4 mm in Q. aliyevi versus 3 mm in Q. araxana ), a denser macropunctation on the frons and shining interstices with a fine microsculpture ( Figs 6D View FIGURE 6 , 7D View FIGURE 7 ) (versus sparse macropunctures and dull interstices with a strong reticulate microsculpture in Q. araxana , Fig. 8B View FIGURE 8 ), denser and irregular macropunctures of various sizes and shining interstices with indistinct microsculpture on the mesoscutum ( Figs 6A View FIGURE 6 , 7A View FIGURE 7 ) (versus sparse regular macropunctures and dull interstices with a strong reticulate microsculpture in Q. araxana , Fig. 8A View FIGURE 8 ), and a longer tegula with a strongly produced posterior end ( Figs 6A View FIGURE 6 , 7A View FIGURE 7 ) (versus a shorter one with less produced posterior end in Q. araxana , Fig. 8A View FIGURE 8 ). The female of Q. aliyevi has a less deeply emarginate ventral margin of the clypeus ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ) than Q. araxana ( Fig. 8B View FIGURE 8 ), while the male of Q. aliyevi has a longer clypeus ( Fig. 7D View FIGURE 7 ) than that of Q. araxana ( Fig. 8C View FIGURE 8 ). The male of Q. aliyevi has the foretibia most similar to that in Q. libanica (according to fig. 3 in Richards 1964), with a more developed bulge ( Fig. 7F, G View FIGURE 7 ) than that in Q. araxana ( Fig. 8D, E View FIGURE 8 ). The male genitalia of Q. aliyevi ( Fig. 7E View FIGURE 7 ) have a broader basal sclerite and less slender parameres (each consisting of fused stipes + harpide) than those of Q. araxana ( Fig. 8F View FIGURE 8 ).

The female of Q. aliyevi is most similar to that of Q. libanica ( ZOBODAT 2025e) , but in Q. aliyevi the frons is covered with moderately spaced distinct small flat macropunctures, in between a dense, finely reticulate microsculpture, whereas these macropunctures are indistinct and nearly absent in Q. libanica . The distribution of the macropunctures on the mesoscutum is quite similar in Q. aliyevi and Q. libanica being dense to moderately spaced along the antero-lateral margins and becoming sparse towards the center, but the macropunctures are larger and deeper in Q. aliyevi and the insterstices are more shining especially on the center, since the fine reticulation of the cuticula is weaker to nearly absent in Q. aliyevi . In Q. aliyevi , the interstices between the dense macropunctation on the dorso-lateral parts of the pronotum and the mesepisternum are raised to little rounded ridges resulting in a distinctly reticulate to horizontally striated appearance, whereas the interstices are only weakly raised in Q. libanica .

The female of Q. aliyevi is also rather similar to that of Q. cretica but as in Q. libanica , the macropunctures on the frons of Q. cretica females are also less distinct, the macropunctures on the mesoscutum are much finer, and the interstices on the dorso-lateral parts of the pronotum and the mesepisternum are only weakly raised. Moreover, the interstices on the mesoscutum of Q. cretica are only matt shining, owing to a more pronounced, finely reticulate microsculpture ( ZOBODAT 2025d). In females of Q. soikai ( ZOBODAT 2025f) , the sculpture of the frons and the mesoscutum is somewhat similar to that of Q. araxana , with dull interstices with a strong reticulate microsculpture; therefore it can be also easily distinguished from Q. aliyevi . This is especially true, since in Q. soikai the macropunctation is even denser than in Q. araxana and the macropunctures on the mesoscutum are of various sizes.

Males of Q. cretica and especially Q. soikai (Mauss et al., in preparation) have a broader foretibia in view on the outside, with a more developed proximal bulge and a distally adjacent nearly semicircular deep emargination on its posterior side than in Q. aliyevi ; the bulge continues into the distal concavity by a distinct, nearly right angle, while the transition between the bulge and the distal concavity is obliquely rounded forming a blunt angle in Q. aliyevi ( Fig. 7F, G View FIGURE 7 ). Quartinia orientalis Gusenleitner, 1973 , another species of this group, can be distinguished from Q. aliyevi (as well as from Q. araxana , Q. cretica , Q. libanica , and Q. soikai ) by a significantly more extended yellow color pattern of the body ( ZOBODAT 2025g, h).

Description. Female. Body length (from head to posterior margin of tergum II) 3 mm (total body length about 4 mm); forewing length 2.5 mm. Head in frontal view about 1.1× as wide as long (from top of median ocellus to ventral margin of clypeus). Clypeus about 1.35× as wide as long; its ventral emargination shallow, about 0.2× as deep as wide, taking about 0.45 of clypeal width, ventro-lateral teeth rounded. Distance between lateral ocellus and occiput about 1.1× as long as distance between lateral ocelli and about 1.2× as long as distance between lateral ocellus and compound eye. Antenna with articles A8–A12 forming club about 2.25× as long as wide in dorsal view. Width of gena in front of ocular sinus about equal to width of compound eye at ocular sinus. Occipital carina complete, forming indistinct obtuse angle at lower part of gena. Pronotum with anterior side nearly vertical, roundly angled to dorsal surface. Pronotal humerus broadly rounded; in lateral view, pronotal carina distinctly separating antero-ventral area of pronotum from its dorsal area at antero-lateral sides. Scutellum separated from mesoscutum by transverse suture, slightly convex, broadly rounded posteriorly. Tegula with posterior end strongly produced medio-posteriorly and narrowly rounded apically; outer side of tegula broadly rounded. Epipleural and episternal sulci weak. Ventral mesepisternum evenly rounded ventrally. Epicnemial carina indistinct. Dorsal carina of propodeum complete, roundly produced dorso-laterally; lateral carina of propodeum complete. Terga I–V and sterna II–V with translucent posterior lamella.

Clypeus dull, densely irregularly punctate, interstices much smaller than puncture diameter, nearly indistinct. Frons with regular rounded macropunctures more than five times smaller in diameter than median ocellus, interstices about as puncture diameter, shining, with fine reticulate microsculpture. Sculpture becoming denser and duller on vertex behind ocelli where interstices much narrower than puncture diameter. Gena shining, with smoothened indistinct maropunctures and wrinkles more or less parallel to lower part of occipital carina. Pronotum densely irregularly punctate, interstices smaller than macropuncture diameter, shining, with fine reticulate microsculpture. Mesoscutum irregularly punctate with macropunctures of various sizes, largest ones about 0.3× as wide as diameter of median ocellus; interstices usually about as puncture diameter on anterior half and exceeding puncture diameter on posterior half, shining, with indistinct microsculpture. Scutellum sculptured similarly to posterior half of mesoscutum but interstices even larger, reaching several puncture diameters. Tegula shining, without distinct punctures. Dorsal and ventral mesepisterna and mesepimeron sculptured similarly to pronotum. Posterior surface of metanotum rather shining, with smoothened micropunctures. Metapleuron and lateral surface of propodeum rather dull, with shagreened microsculpture, without macropunctures. Dorso-lateral and posterior surfaces of propodeum rather dull, with shallow smoothened macropunctures and microsculptured interstices. Metasomal terga with dull reticulate microsculpture and shallow smoothened macropunctures especially distinct on tergum I and hardly recognizable on other ones; interstices between macropunctures about as puncture diameter. Metasomal sterna I–V sculptured similarly to corresponding terga but macropunctures more distinct, well recognizable on all sterna. Sternum VI densely punctate, interstices between macropunctures less than puncture diameter, with reticulate microsculpture similar to that on previous terga.

Mandible and labrum covered with thin erect pale setae, exceeding in length diameter of median ocellus.Clypeus, frons, and vertex with short erect pale brownish setae less in length than diameter of median ocellus. Compound eye bare. Pronotum and mesoscutum with very short and sparse pale setae, shorter than those on clypeus, frons, and vertex. Scutellum, mesopleuron, and propodeum with short unnoticeable setae. Metasoma and legs from coxae to femora mostly with short appressed setae. Tibia and tarsus of foreleg with erect stiff setae about as long as diameter of median ocellus, those setae on mid and hind legs much shorter.

Base color black. Following parts pale yellow: ventral surface of antenna, anterior band on pronotum interrupted medially (sometimes largely reduced), tegula (except central part), postero-median spot on scutellum (often absent or largely reduced), dorsal surface of metanotum (except medial part), posterior bands on terga I–V; legs from distal end of femora (gradually replaced by brownish-yellow on tarsi). Yellow color on body usually outlined by reddish-brown. Mandible (except basal black part), labrum, central part of tegula, posterior surface of metanotum, and metasomal sterna more or less brown. Tergum VI brownish-yellow to ferruginous. Wings transparent; veins and pterostigma brown.

Male. Structure and size similar to female except following: head in frontal view about 1.2× as wide as long; clypeus about 1.2× as wide as long; its ventral emargination taking about 0.55 of clypeal width; distance between lateral ocellus and occiput about 0.85× as distance between lateral ocelli and about 0.95× as distance between lateral ocellus and compound eye; width of gena in front of ocular sinus less than width of compound eye at ocular sinus. Tergum VII posteriorly with two rounded lobes and deep emargination between them. Sternum VII+VIII shallowly concave, posteriorly tridentate, central tooth broader than lateral ones. Genitalia as in Fig. 7E View FIGURE 7 . Foretibia with lateral bulge in proximal half and concavity in distal one; transition between bulge and this concavity rounded.

Sculpture and setation as in female except that clypeus finely and much densely punctate, interstices between macropunctures less than puncture diameter. Tergum VII dull, with strong reticulate microsculpture. Sternum VI sculptured as previous sterna; sternum VII+VIII sculptured as sternum VI in female. Coloration resembles that in female but mandible, labrum, and clypeus pale yellow. Tarsi mostly pale yellow as tibiae, not gradually replaced by brownish-yellow.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: ♀, labeled “Azerbaijan, Nakhichevan AR / Ordubad, Nurgut / 39°13'N 45°53'E 1900 m / 29.VII 2018 Proshchalykin , / Aliyev , Maharramov // Quartinia spec. ♀ / det. V. Mauss 17.02.2019 / db Mauss Nr.: 5294 // Holotypus ♀ / Quartinia aliyevi / Fateryga , Mauss , / Proshchalykin & Maharramov [red label] // Zoological Institute / St. Petersburg / INS_HYM_0000378 [pale yellow label]” [ ZISP] GoogleMaps . PARATYPES: ARMENIA: Caucasus, Araxesthal , 1 ♀, leg. H. Leder, E. Reitter [ ZISP] . AZERBAIJAN. Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic: Shakhbuz, Kulus , 39°21'N, 45°37'E, 1395 m, 20.VI.2021, 2 ♀ (dbM 6347, 6348), 1 ♂ (dbM 6346), leg. M. Maharramov [ CVMM] GoogleMaps ; ibid., 28.V.2025, 1 ♀, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ CVMM]; Julfa, Daridagh- 2, 39°03'58''N, 45°37'35"E, 1100 m, 22.VI.2024, 1 ♂, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ CAFK] GoogleMaps ; ibid., 26.VI.2024, 1 ♀, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ CAFK] GoogleMaps ; ibid., 22.V.2025, 2 ♀, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ CAFK] GoogleMaps ; ibid., 24.V.2025, 1 ♀, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ CVMM] GoogleMaps ; ibid., 29.V.2025, 2 ♀, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ FSCV, ZISP] GoogleMaps ; ibid., 30.V.2025, 1 ♀, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ FSCV]; Babek, Payiz , 39°26'06"N, 45°22'56"E, 1230 m, 25.VI.2024, 1 ♂, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ ZISP] GoogleMaps ; ibid., 28.VI.2024, 1 ♀, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ CAFK]; Ordubad, Bilav , 39°02'43"N, 45°49'07"E, 1050 m, 26.VI.2024, 1 ♀, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ FSCV]; Shakhbuz, Kulus-2, 39°21'51"N, 45°37'38"E, 1400 m, 28.V.2025, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, leg. M. Proshchalykin, M. Maharramov [ 1 ♂, FSCV; 1 ♀, ZISP] GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The new species is named in memory of our colleague Khalid A. Aliyev (1949–2019) from the Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan ( Baku, Azerbaijan), one of the collectors of the holotype.

Distribution. Armenia, Azerbaijan ( Nakhchivan AR) ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 ).

Habitat. Specimens of this species were collected with yellow pan traps on dry mountain slopes with sparse herbaceous vegetation and scattered shrubs ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ).