Quartinia metallescens, 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 : 36-38

Quartinia metallescens von Schulthess Figs 32-34

Quartinia metallescens von Schulthess 1929: 504, 505, female. Holotype: female, South Africa: Queenstown, 3500 feet (BMNH); von Schulthess 1935: 385 (key); Carpenter 2001: 26 (listed).

Quartinioides metallescens (von Schulthess): Richards 1962: 175 (key), 196 (description of female, male).

Diagnosis.

Medium sized (3.8-4.2 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 rounded, in dorsal view attaining level of suture between mesoscutum and scutellum. Head and thorax both with dense, very shallow, flat-bottomed punctures. Female head with white markings both in bottom of ocular sinus and at top of clypeus. Male head with mandibles, labrum, most of clypeus, lower part of orbits, ocular sinus, two frontal dots adjacent of clypeus and spot behind eye dorsally white.

Description.

Female (previously adequately described) ( Figs 32, 33, 34 ).

Material examined.

SOUTH AFRICA: FREE STATE (formerly Orange Free State): Chard, near Ficksburg (28.56S, 27.45E), 6-8. xii.2008 (F. W. and S. K Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Berkheya sp., Asteraceae ) [AMG]. LESOTHO (formerly Basutoland): Mamathes [29.07S, 27.49E], 9.xi.1952 (C. Jacot Guillamod), 2 ♀♀* (on flowers of Gazania longiscapa ); Malubalube Str[ea]m, Teyateyaneng [29.08S 27.43E], 4.xi.1956 (C. Jacot Guillarmod), 2 ♀♀; Tebetebeng Mill [circa 29.11S 27.57E], 13.xi.1948 (C. Jacot Guillarmod), 1 ♀* (on flowers of Gazania sp.) [all AMG].

Provenance of material examined by Richards (1962).

SOUTH AFRICA: EASTERN CAPE: Queenstown [31.54S, 26.53E], 3500 feet. LESOTHO (formerly Basutoland): Tebetebeng [circa 29.11S 27.57E] (on flowers of Gazania sp.); Mamathes [29.07S, 27.49E] (on flowers of Helichrysum sp. and of Gazania longiscapa ). In the paragraph above, material examined, the specimens marked with an * bear Richards’ determination labels.

Geographic distribution.

Known from the type locality in the north eastern Eastern Cape, one locality in the eastern Free State and three localities in Lesotho. All the localities are in Pure Grassveld, subdivided and characterised by Acocks (1953) as various types (nos. 48, 50 and 56) of Cymbopogon-Themeda Veld.

Floral associations.

Asteraceae ( Berkheya , Gazania and Helichrysum ).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Figures

Figures 32 - 34. Quartinia metallescens 32 ♀, lateral view (x 15) 33 ♀, dorsal view (x 18) 34 ♀, head, front view (x 19).