Quartinia namaquensis Gess, 2007

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 : 10-12

Quartinia namaquensis Gess Figs 28-34

Quartinia namaquensis Gess, 2007: 220, ♂. Holotype: ♂, South Africa: Northern Cape: Leliefontein (AMG).

Notes.

This species was described from three males from Leliefontein, collected by Caroline Mayer and one male from W of Wallekraal, collected by F. W. and S. K. Gess. The female was stated to be unknown, "none of the specimens of several species from the relevant localities being assignable with any degree of confidence to this species".

Recent collecting at Rooikloof Farm near Sutherland by F. W. and S. K. Gess and others produced a single male of Quartinia namaquensis and 58 females, believed to be conspecific, the male and the great majority of the females visiting the flowers of Wahlenbergia near polyclada A.DC ( Campanulaceae ). The scarcity of males was most likely due to the fact that collecting took place towards the end the species’ flight period at that particular locality.

In the light of the above association, the undetermined material collected by Caroline Mayer was re-examined and it was found that four females, two from Leliefontein (the type locality of the male) and two from nearby Remhoogte, were clearly conspecific with the females from Rooikloof Farm, and that these should therefore likewise be assigned to Quartinia namaquensis .

Description.

Female (hitherto undescribed) ( Figs 28, 30, 32 ): Virtually indistinguishable from the female of Quartinia conchicola Gess, the differences being subtle. Most notable is that the vertex behind the posterior ocelli is rounded, not depressed and somewhat concave. The occipital carina therefore appears less pronounced. Satisfactory identification of the females of both species is, however, dependant upon their association with the relative males which, in their secondary sexual characters, are strikingly distinct (see Gess 2007).

Male (previously adequately described) ( Figs 29, 31, 33, 34 ).

Additional material examined.

SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Leliefontein (30.23S, 18.16E), 11.ix.2003 (C. Mayer), 1 ♀ (yellow trap); same locality, 23.ix.2003 (C. Mayer), 1 ♀ (white trap); Remhoogte (30.23S, 18.16E), 11.ix.2003 (C. Mayer), 2 ♀♀ (1 ♀ yellow trap; 1 ♀ white trap); Sutherland district, Rooikloof Farm (32.26S, 20.39E), 30.ix.2009 (F.W. and S. K. Gess), 12 ♀♀ (5 ♀♀ visiting pale violet flowers of Wahlenbergia near polyclada A.DC., Campanulaceae ; 4 ♀♀ visiting yellow flowers of Leysera tenella DC., Asteraceae ; 3 ♀♀ visiting pale violet flowers of Selago sp., Scrophulariaceae ); same locality, 1.x.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 10 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (6 ♀♀, 1 ♂ visiting pale violet flowers of Wahlenbergia near polyclada; 3 ♀♀ on ground between plants of Wahlenbergia near polyclada); same locality, 5.x.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 16 ♀♀ (10 ♀♀ visiting pale violet flowers of Wahlenbergia near polyclada; 3 ♀♀ visiting pale violet flowers of Selago sp.,); same locality, 8.x.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 4 ♀♀ (visiting pale violet flowers of Wahlenbergia near polyclada); same locality, 9.x.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 11 ♀♀ (9 ♀♀ from yellow pan traps associated with Wahlenbergia near polyclada; 1 ♀ from yellow pan traps associated with pale violet flowered Selago sp.; 1 ♀ from yellow pan traps associated with Leysera tenella ); same locality, 10.x.2009 (D. W. Gess), 4 ♀♀ (2 ♀♀ visiting pale violet flowers of Wahlenbergia near polyclada; 2 ♀♀ visiting yellow flowers of Chrysocoma sp., Asteraceae ); same locality and date (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ associated with Wahlenbergia near polyclada) - [all AMG].

Geographic distribution.

Known from the Northern Cape, the collecting localities being sited in the Succulent Karoo, the Mountain Renosterbosveld and at the in terface of the Mountain Renosterbosveld and the Western Mountain Karoo of Acocks (1953).

Floral associations.

Asteraceae ( Chrysocoma , Leysera ), Campanulaceae ( Wahlenbergia) and Scrophulariaceae ( Selago ). The floral associations were previously unknown (see Gess, 2007: 221).

Discussion of Nesting.

As was recorded previously ( Gess 2007: 221) a male was reared from a cell in a sand-filled shell of the desert snail Trigonephrus sp. (Mollusca: Gasteropoda: Pulmonata: Dorcasiidae ) collected W of Wallekraal. On the basis of this rearing, Quartinia namaquensis was grouped together with seven other species characterized as nesting in sand-filled snail shells. One of these other species, Quartinia refugicola Gess, though throughout its presently known distribution found to nest in sand-filled shells, was found at Rosh Pinah to nest in addition in sand-filled cavities in calcrete rocks. Consequently, nesting in snail shells by Quartinia rufigicola must be considered to be facultative rather than obligatory. The same must be true for Quartinia namaquensis (and possibly for the other species nesting in snail shells), for at the site at Sutherland, where the species was so common, no suitable snail shells were present.

Figures

Figures 28 - 34. Quartinia namaquensis 28 ♀, lateral view (x 10) 29 ♂, lateral view (x 9) 30 ♀, dorsal view (x 9) 31 ♂, dorsal view (x 9) 32 ♀, head, front view (x 14) 33 ♂, head, front view (x 10) 34 ♂, tergum VII, dorsal view (x 13).