Quartinia senecionis (Richards)

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 : 31-32

Quartinia senecionis (Richards) Figs 8-14

Quartinioides senecionis Richards 1962: female, male. Holotype: male, South Africa: Thaba Nchu (BMNH); Gess and Gess 1989: 128 (flower visiting); Gess 1996: 253 (flower visiting).

Diagnosis.

Small (2.5-3.0 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. Tegula largely white, with a small brown area antero-medially; posterior inner corner absolutely rounded. Black with yellowish-white markings; mid and hind tibiae and tarsi mostly brown; frons and mesoscutum not appreciably shiny. Male with labrum, clypeus, large trapezoidal mark on frons, bottom of ocular sinus and spot on temple yellowish-white.

Description.

Female (previously adequately described)( Figs 8, 10, 12 ).

Male (previously adequately described) ( Figs 9, 11, 13, 14 ).

Material examined.

NAMIBIA: E[ast] of Gamsberg Pass (23.19S, 16.31E), 12.iii.1999 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (visiting yellow flowers of Pentzia incana (Thunb.) Kuntze, Asteraceae ). LESOTHO (formerly Basutoland]: Mamathes [29.07S, 27.49E], 12.xii.1954 (C. Jacot Guillarmod), 6 ♀♀, 1 ♂ paratypes (on flowers of Felicia muricata (Thunb.) Nees, Asteraceae ) [as Aster muricatus ]. 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), 16 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ (visiting flowers, disc yellow, rays mauve, of Felicia muricata ); Thaba Nchu [29.13S, 26.51E] , 1.xii.1952 (C. Jacot Guillarmod), 9 ♀♀, 1 ♂ paratypes (on Senecio laevigatus Thunb.); S of Ladybrand (29.14S 27.23 E), 9.xii.2008 (F.W. and S. K. Gess), 32 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ (visiting flowers of Felicia muricata ); N of Wepener (29.27S, 27.13E), 9.xii.2008 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♂ (visiting flowers of Felicia muricata ); 8 km NE Smithfield (30.09S, 26.36E), 3.xii.2008 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting flowers of Felicia muricata ); 1 km NE Smithfield (30.11S, 26.33E), 3.xii.2008 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 5 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (visiting yellow flowers of Pentzia incana ).EASTERN CAPE: Near Aliwal North (30.44S, 26.47E), 11.xii.2008 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀, 3 ♂♂ (visiting flowers of Felicia muricata ) - [all AMG].

Provenance of material examined by Richards (1962).

SOUTH AFRICA: FREE STATE: Thaba Nchu [29.13S, 26.51E] (on flowers of Senecio laevigatus Thunberg). LESOTHO (formerly Basutoland): Mamathes [29.07S, 27.49E] (on flowers of Felicia muricata [as Aster muricatus ]; Tebetebeng Mill [circa 29.11S 27.57E(on flowers of Gazania sp.).

Geographic distribution.

In Namibia the species if known only from E of the Gamsberg Pass in the Highland Savanna of Giess (1971). In South Africa it is known from several localities in the eastern Free State and from one locality in the north-eas tern Eastern Cape, these localities bordering Lesotho to the west and south respectively. From Lesotho itself it is known from two localities. All these southern localities are in Pure Grassveld, subdivided and characterised by Acocks (1953) as various types (nos. 48, 50 and 56) of Cymbopogon-Themeda Veld.

Discussion of distribution.

The apparent disjunct distribution, possibly no more than a consequence of a geographical hiatus of collecting, finds a striking parallel in the distribution of Jugurtia confusa Richards (see Gess 2004: 691 and Fig. 3f). That species, collected in the Khomas Highlands of Namibia at the same site and date as Quartinia senecionis , exhibits a more extensive development of the pale markings in comparison with specimens from the eastern Free State and Eastern Cape. No such geographical variation is evident with respect to Quartinia senecionis .

Floral associations.

Asteraceae ( Felicia , Gazania , Pentzia and Senecio ).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Figures

Figures 8 - 14. Quartinia senecionis 8 ♀, lateral view (x 20) 9 ♂, lateral view (x 22) 10 ♀, dorsal view (x 19) 11 ♂, dorsal view (x 19) 12 ♀, head, front view (x 22) 13 ♂, head, front view (x 23) 14 ♂, tergum VII, dorsal view (x 26).