Quartinia helichrysi (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 : 35

Quartinia helichrysi (Richards) Figs 29-31

Quartinioides helichrysi Richards 1962: 175 (key), 198, female. Holotype: female Lesotho (formerly Basutoland): Mamalapi Mts (BMNH); Carpenter 2001: 25 (listed).

Diagnosis.

Small (2.8-3.5 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.Female (male unknown) with head densely coriaceous, almost without punctures; mesoscutum sparsely punctured. Head with white marking in bottom of ocular sinus only.

Description.

Female (previously adequately described) ( Figs 29, 30, 31 ).

Material examined.

LESOTHO (formerly Basutoland): Mamalapi Mtn, 28.xii.1948 (C. Jacot Guillarmod), 3 ♀♀ (on flowers of Helichrysum fulgidum ) [AMG]. These specimens bear determination labels in Richards’ handwriting: " Quartinia sp. near metallescens Schulth." and, though not labelled as such, are clearly the paratypes recorded by Richards (1962: 198) as being in the collection of Mr C. F. Jacot Guillarmod. That collection was in 1958 incorporated by Jacot Guillarmod with that of the Albany Museum.

Geographic distribution.

Known only from the single locality in Lesotho.

Floral associations.

Asteraceae ( Helichrysum fulgidum [probably = Helichrysum aureum (Houtt.) Merr.]).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Figures

Figures 29 - 31. Quartinia helichrysi 29 ♀, lateral view (x 17) 30 ♀, dorsal view (x 17) 31 ♀, head, front view (x 22).