Quartinia aerosa, Gess, 2011

Gess, Friedrich W., 2011, The genus Quartinia Ed. Andre, 1884 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) in Southern Africa. Part V. New and little known species with incomplete venation, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 22, pp. 29-43 : 33-35

Quartinia aerosa sp. n. Figs 22-28

Holotype.

♀,SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Sutherland District: Rooikloof Farm (32.26S, 20.39E), 8.x.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess) (visiting yellow flowers of Leysera tenella DC., Asteraceae ).

Paratypes:

SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Sutherland District: Rooikloof Farm (32.26S, 20.39E), 1-10.x.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 21 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂ (12 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ visiting yellow flowers of Leysera tenella ; 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ visiting pale violet flowers of Wahlenbergia near polyclada A.DC., Campanulaceae ; 1 ♀ on ground between flowering plants of Wahlenbergia near polyclada; 3 ♀♀ from yellow pan trap associated with flowering plants of Wahlenbergia near polyclada and Selago p., Scrophulariaceae ); same locality, 10.x.2009 (D. W. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting ale violet flowers of Wahlenbergia near polyclada) [all AMG].

Diagnosis.

Small (2.8-3.1 mm). Fore wing with Cu1a and 2 m-cu present but attenuate, much thinner than other veins, and with 2 m-cu interrupted before reaching M. Head and mesosoma greenish-metallic. Tegula with posterior inner corner inwardly produced and angular, in dorsal view not attaining level of suture between mesoscutum and scutellum. Both sexes with head with white markings (crescent in ocular sinus, spot flanking inner margin of eye, spot on temple behind eye; male with white clypeus. Dorsum of propodeum with yellow marking.

Description.

Female ( Figs 22, 24, 26 ):Head and mesosoma dark metallic green with, depending on the angle of illumination, reddish-bronze lustre; gaster black but depending upon the angle of illumination with a similar but reduced lustre. The following are whitish-yellow: underside of antennal club; crescent at bottom of ocular sinus; a small spot flanking inner margin of upper part of eye at level of ocelli (in majority of specimens); spot on temple behind top of eye; minute spot at postero-dorsal angle of pronotum; tegula anteriorly and posteriorly; small spot at top of mesopleuron (in majority of specimens); a minute to small transverse spot (tending to be suffused by light ferruginous) postero-medially on scutellum; scutellar lamella laterally; a minute spot to small transverse streak laterally on dorsum of propodeum (in majority of specimens). Yellow, to variable degree suffused by ferruginous (especially laterally), are transverse bands on terga I - V (those on terga II - V slightly anteriorly produced medially and laterally). Various shades of ferruginous are: apical half of mandible; apical third of tergum IV; sterna; apex of femur, part of tibia of all legs.

Length: 3.04-3.08 mm (average of 3: 3.07 mm); length of fore wing: 2.08-2.12 mm (average of 3: 2.09 mm); hamuli 3.

Head in front view 1.3 × as wide as long; POL: OOL = 1: 0.85. Clypeus 1.6 × as wide as long; anterior margin shallowly emarginate; lateral angles rounded.

Head, mesosoma and gaster finely microsculptured (shagreened); punctures everywhere barely discernable.

Male ( Figs 23, 25, 27, 28 ):Head and mesosoma dark metallic green with, depending on the angle of illumination, reddish-bronze lustre; gaster black but depending upon the angle of illumination with a similar but reduced lustre. The following are whitish-yellow: underside of scape, pedicel, intermediate flagellomeres and proximal half of club; most of labrum; entire clypeus (except lamellate distal margin and, in some specimens, area immediately proximal to it); broad crescent at bottom of ocular sinus; small spot flanking inner margin of upper part of eye at level of ocelli; spot on temple behind top of eye; transverse band (in some specimens narrowed medially) on anterior margin of pronotum and small spot on postero-dorsal angle of same; humeral angle; tegula anteriorly and posteriorly; streak at top of mesopleuron; lateral and postero-medial spots on scutellum (lateral spots effaced in one specimen); scutellar lamella laterally; dorsum of propodeum. Yellow, to a variable degree suffused by ferruginous (especially laterally), are transverse bands on terga I - VI (those on terga II - IV slightly anteriorly produced medially and laterally). Various shades of ferruginous are: apical half of mandible; apical half of tergum VII; sterna; apex of femur, most of tibia and proximal three tarsomeres of all legs (last two tarsomeres darker).

Length:2.8 mm(consistent for 3 specimens); length of fore wing 1.8 mm (consistent for 3 specimens); hamuli 3.

Head in front view 1.3 × as wide as long; POL: OOL = 1: 0.9. Clypeus 1.7 × as wide as long; anterior margin shallowly emarginate; lateral angles rounded.

Tergum VII with a deep V-shaped slit; lateral lobes smoothly rounded apically. Sterna atuberculate.

Etymology.

The name aerosa, a Latin female adjective meaning ore-coloured, refers to the greenish-metallic appearance of the head and mesosoma.

Geographic distribution.

At present known only from the type locality, Rooikloof Farm, near Sutherland, in the Arid Karoo and Desert False Grassveld of Acocks (1953).

Floral associations.

Asteraceae ( Leysera ), Campanulaceae ( Wahlenbergia ).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Figures

Figures 22 - 28. Quartinia aerosa 22 ♀, lateral view (x 18) 23 ♂, lateral view (x 24) 24 ♀, dorsal view (x 19) 25 ♂, dorsal view (x 19) 26 ♀, head, front view (x 23) 27 ♂, head, front view (x 24) 28 ♂, tergum VII, dorsal view (x 19).