Behaviour of the nest owning female of Quartinia canariensis at nest No. 1: 16 Female “lining” of the turret rim with the mouthparts (mandible spread, labrum erected, part of maxilla visible) at the onset of activity in the morning 17 Female backing out of the shaft during nest excavation, carrying a large sand grain behind the mandibles 18 Female turning around outside of the nest prior to the start of flight activity in the morning: a Female “lining” the turret wall from the inside b Female turning quickly around after she has left the turret head first c Tip of the metasoma of the female is visible in the nest entrance after re-entering the nest head first 19 Female turning around outside of the nest at the end of activity in the afternoon: a Female situated above the turret after she has backed out of the nest and moved forward again b Female re-entering the nest backwards.