Quartinia luteomandibulata, 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 : 9-10

Quartinia luteomandibulata sp. n. Figs 25-27

Holotype

♀, SOUTH AFRICA: WESTERN CAPE: Lamberts Bay (32.05S, 18.19E), 28.ix.2005 (F. W. and S. K. Gess) (visiting yellow flowers of Conocosia sp., Aizoaceae : Mesembryanthema ) [AMG].

Paratypes.

SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Koingnaas Mines (30.10S, 17.14E), 12-17.xi.2007 (C. Lyons), ♀ (from pan trap) [AMG]; SOUTH AFRICA: WESTERN CAPE: Lamberts Bay (32.05S, 18.19E), 28.ix.2005 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Conocosia sp., Aizoaceae : Mesembryanthema ) [AMG].

Diagnosis.

Large (5.2-5.6 mm). Fore wing with Cu1a and 2 m-cu complete and as thick as other veins. Tegula with posterior inner corner inwardly produced. Female (male unknown) with mandible at least in part pale yellow, contrasting strikingly with totally black clypeus.

Description.

Female ( Figs 25-27 ): Black. The following are pale yellow: basal half of mandible (to variable extent; tending proximally to change to light ferruginous); underside of scape, pedicel and proximal flagellomeres; pair of large quadrangular markings (in paratype from Koingnaas partly fused) on lower half of frons immediately above clypeo-frontal suture; most of ocular sinus; streak of variable length on temple behind top of eye; pair of wedge-shaped markings (meeting or very narrowly separated medially) on anterior margin of pronotum and extreme postero-dorsal angle of same; large mark on humeral angle; mark of variable extent (large or broken up into a number of small spots or totally effaced) on mesopleuron; tegula (except for ferruginous median area); spot basally on each side of scutellum (effaced in paratype from Lamberts Bay); scutellar lamella (interrupted posteriorly); marking on propodeal angle (reduced in paratype from Lamberts Bay to small spot on dorsum of propodeum); posterior bands reaching or not reaching sides on terga I - V; band on tergum I widest; those on terga I - V progressively narrower but medially and laterally slightly anteriorly produced; apex of femur, tibia (except dark area posteriorly at mid length) of all legs. Light ferruginous are: apical half or more of mandible; underside of antennal club; tarsomeres of all legs. Dark ferruginous are: apex of mandible; labrum; upper side of antenna; median area of tegula; claws. Wings very lightly browned; veins brown.

Length 5.2-5.6 mm (average of 3: 5.5 mm); length of fore wing 3.3 mm (average of 3); hamuli 4.

Head in front view 1.3 × as wide as long; POL: OOL = 1: 0.6. Clypeus 1.43 × as wide as long; anterior margin widely V-shaped; antero-lateral corners obtusely rounded.

Clypeus, frons and vertex microreticulate (shagreened) with small, close, not very discernable punctures; mesosoma microreticulate (shagreened) with obvious punctures, larger than those on vertex; punctures on mesonotum with interstices equal to or exceeding puncture width, those on scutellum generally closer; gaster moderately shiny, very finely microreticulate (shagreened), with very small punctures.

Male: Unknown.

Etymology.

The name Quartinia luteomandibulata refers to the female’s predominantly yellow mandibles which contrast strikingly with the totally black clypeus and in so doing present a most unusual appearance.

Geographic distribution.

Known only from two localities on the west coast of the Northern and Western Cape, both being in the Strandveld of the West Coast of Acocks (1953).

Floral associations.

Aizoaceae : Mesembryanthema ( Conocosia sp.).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Figures

Figures 25 - 27. Quartinia luteomandibulata 25 ♀, lateral view (x 10) 26 ♀, dorsal view (x 11) 27 ♀, head, front view (x 15).