SOUTH AFRICA; WESTERN CAPE: Melkbosstrand, Duynefontein (33.42S, 18.26E), 3–16.x.2010 (D. W., G. T. and G. M. Gess), 18 ♀♀, 26 ♂♂ (7 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂ on sand beneath Trachyandra sp., Asphodelaceae; 1 ♂ on flower of large pink mesem, Aizoaceae: Mesembryanthema); Koeberg Nature Reserve (33.38S, 18.24E), 9–30.x.2010 (D. W., G. T. and G. M. Gess), 74 ♀♀, 106 ♂♂ (28 ♀♀, 82 ♂♂ on sand beneath Trachyandra sp., Asphodelaceae; 3 ♀♀ visiting white flowers of Capnophyllum africanum (L.) W. D. J. Koch, Apiaceae; 24 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ on ground); same locality, 29–30.x.2010 (F.W. and S. K. Gess), 52 ♀♀, 11 ♂♂ (3 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂ visiting purple flowers of Senecio cf. arenarius Thunb., Asteraceae; 1 ♀, 1 ♂ visiting yellow flowers of Senecio sp., Asteraceae; 14 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ visiting yellow flowers of “helichrysum", Asteraceae; 5 ♀♀ visiting yellow flowers of Carpobrotus sp., Aizoaceae: Mesembryanthema; 7 ♀♀ visiting white flowers of Capnophyllum africanum; 22 ♀♀ on ground) – [all AMG].

To the previously recorded Aizoaceae: Mesembryanthema (Conocosia sp. and Drosanthemum sp.) are added Carpobrotus sp. and “large pink mesem"; Apiaceae (Capnophyllum africanum (L.) W. D. J. Koch) and Asteraceae (Senecio spp. and “helichrysum")

Medium sized (3.6–4.3mm) but large on the basis of Richards' measurement (♀ about 5.0 mm). Fore wing with Cu1a and 2m-cu complete and as thick as other veins. Tegula with inner posterior corner inwardly produced, acute. Angle of propodeum very markedly posteriorly produced into thick, non-translucent lamella. Posterior face of propodeum with ventral third shiny, contrasting markedly with closely punctured upper two thirds; shiny part laterally covering inner surface of lamella and passing upwards into a well marked pit.

Female (previously adequately described) (Figs 1, 3, 5). The present material agrees well with the description but some of the specimens, less melanistic than the type, differ in having the pale markings (yellow, usually suffuged with ferruginous at the edges) slightly more extensive. Thus the pronotum may have a pair of small transverse streaks antero-medially in addition to the minute spot at the postero-dorsal angle; the scutellum may have the lamella pale in addition to the marking (present in some specimens only) at the centre of the posterior margin; and the gaster has posterior bands on all the terga.

Male (hitherto undescribed) (Figs 2, 4, 6): Easily associated with the female on account of the uniquely developed propodeal angles. Pale markings are more extensive than those of females from the same localities. Black. The following are yellowish-white: small spot submarginally on each side of clypeus (in one specimen only); underside of more proximal flagellomeres of club; narrow transverse band (entire or narrowly interrupted) medially on anterior margin of pronotum; streak on humeral angle and spot on postero-dorsal angle; tegula (except for ferruginous median area); transverse mark postero-medially on scutellum; scutellar lamella (usually medially suffused with ferruginous); posterior bands on terga I–VI (that of T I markedly wider than progressively narrower bands of terga II–VI). Various shades of ferruginous are: mandibles distally; labrum; upper surface of antennae; upper and outer lateral surfaces of propodeal lamella (to variable degree); terga I–V laterally; in most specimens tergum VI medially and tergum VII entirely; posterior bands on sterna. Legs as described for female.

Tergum VII with disk noticeably convex; apical margin with a V-shaped slit; lobes flanking slit rounded. Fore legs unmodified; sterna atuberculate.

Mesosoma more closely and finely punctured than that of female.

Length 3.6–4.0 mm; length of fore wing 2.6 mm.

SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Carnarvon (30.59S, 22.07E), 24.ix.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 4 ♀♀ (visiting yellow flowers of blue/violet rayed capitula of Felicia dubia Cass., Asteraceae); 15 km N[orth] of Nieuwoudtville on road to Loeriesfontein [Skuinshoogte Pass] (31.16S, 19.08E), 3-8.x.1989 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting flowers of Leysera tenella DC., Asteraceae); Sutherland District, Bo-Visrivier road (32.25S, 20.39E), 6.x.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 4 ♀♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Chrysocoma sp., Asteraceae); Sutherland District, W[est] of Ouberg Pass (32.26S, 20.19E), 28.ix.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀, 4 ♂♂ (1 ♀, 1 ♂ visiting yellow flowers of blue/violet rayed capitula of Felicia dubia Cass., Asteraceae; 3 ♂♂ visiting yellow flowers of “button" capitula, Asteraceae); Sutherland District, Rooikloof Farm (32.26S, 20.39E), 10.x.2009 (D. W. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Chrysocoma sp., Asteraceae); between Sutherland and Matjiesfontein (33.04S, 20.35E), 2.x.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Chrysocoma sp., Asteraceae); WESTERN CAPE: 10 km E[ast] of Laingsburg, Geelbeksbrug Farm (33.09S, 20.59E), 13.x.2009 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 2 ♀♀ (1 ♀ visiting yellow flowers of Leysera tenella , Asteraceae; 1 ♀ visiting yellow flowers of Chrysocoma sp., Asteraceae) – [all AMG].

Known from the seven localities in the Northern Cape and one in the Western Cape, all being in the western part of the Great Karoo. The southernmost locality for Quartinia artemis is separated by the Klein Swartberg from the localities in the Little Karoo recorded below for Quartinia carpenteri.

Asteraceae (Chrysocoma, Felicia, Leysera, “button" capitula).

Unknown.

SOUTH AFRICA; WESTERN CAPE: Koeberg Nature Reserve (33.38S, 18.24E), 9–30.x.2010 (D. W., G. T. and G. M. Gess), 7 ♀♀ (2 ♀♀ on sand beneath Trachyandra sp., Asphodelaceae; 3 ♀♀ on ground); same locality, 29.x.2010 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 5 ♀♀ (4 ♀♀ visiting purple flowers of Senecio cf. arenarius Thunb., Asteraceae); Melkbosstrand, Duynefontein (33.42S, 18.26E), 3–16.x.2010 (D. W., G. T. and G. M. Gess), 32 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ (1 ♂ on flowers of Trachyandra sp.; 1 ♀ on flowers of “purple daisy with yellow centre" [probably Senecio cf. arenarius]), 26 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ on sand beneath Trachyandra sp.); Melkbosstrand, Holgat to Kreefbaai (33.46S, 18.27E), 24–28.ix.2010 (D. W., G. T. and G. M. Gess), 38 ♀♀ (7 ♀♀ on flowers of Trachyandra sp.; 31 ♀♀ on sand beneath Trachyandra sp.) [all AMG].

To the previously recorded Asphodelaceae (Trachyandra divaricata (Jacq.) Kunth., for which eight more records are added), and Aizoaceae: Mesembrianthema (including Conicosia and Drosanthemum), are added five records for Asteraceae (Senecio cf. arenarius Thunb.). It would appear that Trachyandra is a favoured forage flower and it is for this reason that so many specimens, both females and males, of the wasp have been caught resting on the sand beneath these plants.

♂, SOUTH AFRICA: WESTERN CAPE: Bergendal Farm (33.30S, 21.19E), 4 km E[ast] of Ladismith, 2.xi.2010 (F. W and S. K. Gess), (visiting yellow flowers of semi-prostrate mesem, Malephora sp., Aizoaceae: Mesembryanthema) [AMG].

SOUTH AFRICA: WESTERN CAPE: same data as holotype, 12 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂; 5 km S[outh] of Ladismith on R62 (33.32S, 21.15E), 9.xi.2010 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 2 ♀♀ (visiting yellow flowers of semi-prostrate mesem, Malephora sp. Aizoaceae: Mesembryanthema) [AMG]; 3 km S[outh] of Meiringspoort (33°28'S, 22°32'E) (500m), 11.xii.1996 (J. Carpenter & A. Davidson), 4 ♀♀ [AMNH].

Large (4.8–5.4 mm). Fore wing with Cu1a and 2m-cu complete and as thick as other veins. Tegula with inner posterior corner inwardly produced, acute. Angle of propodeum postero-ventrally produced into rounded, marginally translucent lamella. Posterior face of propodeum with ventral third shiny, contrasting markedly with closely punctured upper two thirds; shiny part laterally covering inner surface of lamella but smoothly concave and not passing upwards into a well marked pit as in Quartinia artemis. Male with clypeus and labrum yellowish-white; with posterior margin of tergum VII shallowly emarginate and with sterna atuberculate.

Female (Figs 13, 15, 17): Black. The following are yellowish-white: underside of antenna; short transverse band medially on anterior margin of pronotum, small mark (effaced in one specimen) on humeral angle, minute spot at postero-dorsal angle; tegula (except for ferruginous median area); scutellar lamella (usually medially suffused with ferruginous); posterior bands, not attaining sides and progressively narrower and shorter on terga I–V; apex of femur and streak on dorsal aspect of tibia of fore leg; apex of femur and base of tibia of middle and hind legs. Various shades of ferruginous are: distal half of mandible; upper aspect of antenna; translucent posterior margin of propodeal lamella; terga laterally; diffuse posterior bands on sterna; most of femur, tibia and tarsomeres of all legs. Wings lightly browned; veins brown.

Length 5.0–5.4 mm; length of fore wing 3.5 mm (average of 3); hamuli 5.

Head in front view 1.23 × as wide as long; POL: OOL = 1: 0.8. Clypeus 1.3 × as wide as long; anterior margin shallowly emarginate; antero-lateral angle rounded.

Clypeus, frons and vertex moderately coarsely and closely punctured with microsculptured (shagreened) interstices; punctures on pronotum, mesonotum, scutellum and dorsum of propodeum larger than those on head, discrete, on mesonotum separated variously by less than their diameter to about four times their diameter. Gaster closely punctured; terga I and II coarsely so, remaining terga progressively more finely punctured.

Angle of propodeum postero-ventrally produced into rounded, marginally translucent lamella. Posterior face of propodeum with ventral third shiny, contrasting markedly with closely punctured upper two thirds; shiny part laterally covering inner surface of lamella but smoothly concave and not passing upwards into a well marked pit as in Quartinia artemis.

Male (Figs 14, 16, 18): Black. The following are yellowish-white: variably sized spot (effaced in one specimen) on base of mandible; labrum; clypeus (except immediately below antennal socket); scape and pedicel (except dorsally); underside of intermediate flagellomeres and of proximal flagellomeres of club; transverse band on anterior margin of pronotum, either fused with marking on humeral angle or narrowly separated from it; minute spot at postero-dorsal angle; two minute dots at top of mesopleuron (in one specimen only); tegula (except for ferruginous median area); transverse mark of variable length posteriorly on scutellum; scutellar lamella (medially suffused with ferruginous); small streak edging upper part of propodeal lamella; posterior bands, not attaining sides and progressively narrower and shorter on terga I–VI and small crescent-shaped band margining emargination on VII; apex of femur and base of tibia of all legs. Various shades of ferruginous are: distal half of mandible; upper aspect of antenna; translucent posterior margin of propodeal lamella; terga laterally; diffuse posterior bands on sterna; most of femur, tibia and tarsomeres of all legs. Wings lightly browned; veins brown.

Length circa 4.8 mm; length of fore wing 3.0 mm; hamuli 5.

Head in front view 1.36 × as wide as long; POL: OOL = 1: 0.8. Clypeus 1.45 × as wide as long; anterior margin shallowly emarginate; antero-lateral angles rounded.

Punctation similar to that of female except that on mesoscutum and scutellum it is courser and closer.

Angles of propodeum and posterior face of the latter identical with that of female. Posterior margin of tergum VII shallowly emarginate, not slit-like. Sterna atuberculate.

Named after James Carpenter of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, co-collector with Amy Davidson of the first specimens of the present species, cladist of the Masarinae, and much esteemed colleague and friend.

Known from three localities, not very far distant from each other, in the Little Karoo of the Western Cape. Its close congener, Quartinia artemis, appears, from the available records (see above), to be a species of the western Great Karoo.

Aizoaceae: Mesembryanthema (Malephora sp.).

Unknown.

– Large (4.7–5.6 mm). Fore wing with Cu1a and 2m-cu complete and as thick as other veins. Tegula with posterior inner corner inwardly produced. Female with mandible at least in part pale yellow, contrasting strikingly with totally black clypeus. Male with mandible, labrum, clypeus, large dorsally widened supra-clypeal marking (in some specimens extended laterally to fuse with streak at bottom of ocular sinus), para-ocular streak, yellow.

Male (hitherto undescribed) (Figs 19, 20, 21): Black. The following are pale yellow: mandible (except ferruginous apex); scape, pedicel, underside of proximal flagellomeres; labrum; clypeus (except beneath antennal socket); large dorsally widened supra-clypeal marking on lower half of frons (this marking in some specimens widened and extended laterally to fuse with streak at bottom of ocular sinus, in which case entire ocular sinus is filled; in a few specimens an intermediate condition is present in which one or more spots of variable size are present between the dorso-lateral corners of the supra-clypeal mark and the streak at the bottom of the ocular sinus); narrow paraocular streak (in specimens with unexpanded supra-clypeal marking confined to lower orbit; in specimens with supra-clypeal marking extended into ocular sinus narrowly fused with infilling of sinus, leaving a narrow outwardly curved black streak above antennal socket); streak (in some specimens effaced) 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 (in some specimens fused with marking on anterior margin); 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 (in a minority of specimens only); scutellar lamella (interrupted posteriorly); marking on propodeal angle (varying from most of dorsal and lateral surfaces to small spot on dorsum to total effacement); posterior bands not or almost reaching sides on terga I, II, III, IV, V or VI (depending on degree of melanism); band on tergum I widest, those on subsequent terga progressively narrower but all bands (particularly if well developed) medially and laterally anteriorly produced; streak on apical half of femur, most of tibia and in some specimens most of tarsomeres of legs. Light ferruginous are: apex of mandible; antennal club (dorsally a little darker); tarsomeres (if not pale yellow). Darker ferruginous are: median area of tegula; parameres; claws. Wings very lightly browned, almost hyaline; veins brown.

Length 4.7–5.3 mm (average of 3: 5.1 mm); length of fore wing 3.2 mm (average of 3); hamuli 6.

Head in front view 1.4 × as wide as long; POL: OOL = 1: 0.6. Clypeus 1.6 × as wide as long; anterior margin widely and shallowly emarginate; antero-lateral corners obtusely rounded.

Punctation similar to that of female but microreticulation (shagreening) of mesosoma less obvious and integument consequently somewhat more shiny.

Tergum VII with disk slightly depressed medially; apical margin with a median V-shaped slit; lobes flanking slit wide, smoothly rounded. Sterna atuberculate.

Melanistic females. In comparison with some females of the type series from further north along the west coast and in particular with sympatric females from Koeberg, several females from this latter locality exhibit some degree of melanism affecting the pale yellow markings of the head and mesosoma. Thus the markings on the lower half of the frons and in the ocular sinus may be greatly reduced or even totally effaced. Also, the streak on the temple may be greatly reduced or totally absent (though it may be absent also in specimens with well developed markings on the frons). The spot basally on each side of the scutellum may be reduced or effaced (as in the paratype from Lamberts Bay) and the marking on the propodeal angle may be reduced (as in the paratype from Lamberts Bay) or may be effaced. All these specimens, however, exhibit the characteristic pale yellow (at least in part) mandible contrasting strikingly with the totally black clypeus, the large pale yellow marking on the humeral angle, and the pale yellow apex of the femur and most of the tibia of all legs.

SOUTH AFRICA: WESTERN CAPE: Koeberg Nature Reserve (33.38S, 18.24E), 9.x.2010, 4 ♂♂ (on sand beneath Trachyandra sp., Asphodelaceae); same locality, 17.x.2010, 9 ♀♀, 12 ♂♂; same locality, 24.x.2010, 7 ♀♀, 19 ♂♂ (1 ♂ visiting white flowers of Apiaceae); same locality, 30.x.2010, 10 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂ (1 ♀ visiting flowers of large white mesem, Aizoaceae: Mesembryanthema; all other specimens on ground) – (all D. W., G. T. and G. M. Gess); same locality, 29.x.2010, 3 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (1 ♂ visiting flowers of purple Senecio cf. arenarius Thunb., Asteraceae; other specimens on ground); same locality, 30.x.2010, 4 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ (1 ♀, 3 ♂♂ visiting white flowers of Capnophyllum africanum (L.) W. D. J. Koch, Apiaceae; other specimens on ground) – (all F. W. and S. K. Gess) [all AMG].

The present material from the Koeberg Nature Reserve (33.38S, 18.24E) establishes a southward extension of the hitherto known distribution of Quartinia luteomandibulata. Previously the species was known from the Koingnaas Mines (30.10S, 17.14E) in the Northern Cape and from Lamberts Bay (32.05S, 18.19E) in the Western Cape. All three localities are in the Strandveld of the West Coast of Acocks (1953).

To the previously recorded Aizoaceae: Mesembryanthema (Conicosia sp.) (Gess 2011a: 12) may be added: Aizoaceae: Mesembryanthema (large white mesem); Asteraceae (Senecio cf. arenarius Thunb.); Apiaceae (Capnophyllum africanum (L.) W. D. J. Koch).

Unknown.

.SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: Koingnaas Mines (30.14S, 17.15E), ix.2007 (from pan trap) (C. Lyons & J. Mingo), 1 ♂ [AMG]. The above record, for the second male known, is from slightly north of the type locality.

Quartinia atlantica Gess, 2011 was described from the holotype ♀ from Blaauwberg – Melkbosstrand, collected on 5.x.2005 by F. W. and S. K. Gess and from an assemblage of a further 57 ♀♀ from the Koeberg Nature Reserve, the latter obtained by S. van Noort from yellow pan traps during the period 13. vi. – 28.xi.1997.

Subsequent collecting at Koeberg Nature Reserve by D. W., G. T. and G. M. Gess during the period 9–30.x.2010 and by F. W. and S. K. Gess during the period 29–30.x.2010 yielded a further 64 ♀♀ and 25 ♀♀ respectively. A total of 147 ♀♀ was therefore collected, however no males which could be ascribed to the species were found.

Persistent and diligent collecting by D. W., G. T. and G. M. Gess at the Koeberg Nature Reserve at the beginning of following season, on 30 and 31 July 2011, was rewarded with the capture of both females of Quartinia atlantica and of associated clearly conspecific males.

Examination of these males showed them to be conspecific, though showing some degree of melanism, with the type material of Quartinia namaquensis Gess, 2007, described from Leliefontein and from west of Wallekraal as also with the single male recorded (Gess 2011a) from Sutherland.

In the light of the present association of males and females from Koeberg, it is clear that the females recorded (Gess 2011a) from Sutherland as also those from Leliefontein and Remhoogte were erroneously assigned to namaquensis and described as such and that they are conchicola (Gess, 2007). As stated (Gess 2011a) these specimens are “virtually indistinguishable from the female of Quartinia conchicola Gess, the differences being subtle". Re-examination of the material suggests that rather than subtle the differences are illusory!

Establishment of the present synonymy means that for Quartinia namaquensis both male and true female are now known, as are an extended distribution down the west coast, floral associations and nesting.

Male (previously adequately describedfrom Leliefontein and from west of Wallekraal: see Gess, 2007: 222, figs 3, 9; further illustrated in Gess, 2011a, figs 29, 31, 33 and 34).

The recently collected males from Koeberg share with the type material and with the subsequently recorded male from Sutherland the following diagnostic characters: fore femur greatly swollen, its posterior surface in proximal half markedly concavely excavate, smooth and very shiny, its baso-ventral region angulate and sublamellate; tergum VII drawn out apico-medially into robust, pointed, dorsally flattened and apically narrowly pointed process; antennae noticeably attenuated.

In comparison with the type material, the specimens are to some degree melanistic in so far that the posterior bands on terga I–V are reduced, being narrower and not reaching sides; that the band on tergum VI is absent; that the middle and hind femora and tibiae (except at the “knees") are predominantly black and that the tarsomeres of these legs are dark brown.

Female (previously adequately described from Koeberg as Quartinia atlantica

Gess (see Gess, 2011a: 5, figs 8–10), here sunk into synonymy.

If the females from Koeberg follow the same tendency towards melanism as shown by the males from that locality in comparison with those from further north, then they may likewise in the north have more extensive pale markings and pale legs.

SOUTH AFRICA; WESTERN CAPE: Koeberg Nature Reserve (33.38S, 18.24E), 9–30.x.2010 (D. W., G. T. and G. M. Gess), 64 ♀♀ (10 ♀♀ on sand beneath Trachyandra sp., Asphodelaceae; 23 ♀♀ on ground; 3 ♀♀ visiting white flowers of Capnophyllum africanum (L.) W. D. J. Koch, Apiaceae); same locality, 29–30.x.2010 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 25 ♀♀ (14 ♀♀ visiting purple flowers of Senecio cf. arenarius Thunb., Asteraceae; 2 ♀♀ visiting yellow flowers of “helichrysum", Asteraceae; 4 ♀♀ visiting yellow flowers of Carpobrotus sp., Aizoaceae: Mesembryanthema; 2 ♀♀ visiting white flowers of Capnophyllum africanum; 3 ♀♀ on ground); same locality, 30 & 31.vii.2011 (D. W., G. T. and G. M. Gess), 7♀♀, 9 ♂♂ (on ground) – [all AMG].

Aizoaceae: Mesembryathema (Carpobrotus sp.); Apiaceae (Capnophyllum africanum (L.) W. D. J. Koch, ); Asteraceae (Senecio sp. and “helichrysum"). To these may be added the record for the male from Sutherland: Campanulaceae (Wahlenbergia near polyclada A.DC.). [The records for the females from Sutherland, erroneously assigned to Quartinia namaquensis, pertain to Quartinia conchicola.]

West of Wallekraal one specimen, a male, freshly eclosed and with

wings not yet fully hardened, was extracted from a cell of a nest in a sand-filled shell of the desert snail Trigonephrus sp. (Mollusca: Gasteropoda; Pulmonata: Dorcasiidae) (Gess 2007: 221). Such sand-filled shells occur also at Koeberg and it is likely that there too Quartinia namaquensis utilises them for nesting.

In the key to species of Quartinia nesting in sand-filled snail shells (Gess 2007: 227–228) the then unknown female of namaquensis was not included.

In the key the missing female of namaquensis (as now identified from Koeberg) runs down to australis Gess, the characters given in the key being common to the females of both species, which indeed bear a close resemblance to one another though the relevant males are very different. The females may be distinguished, however, by the following characters. Though the tegulae are similarly marked and both have the inner posterior corner inwardly produced, that of namaquensis is relatively longer (1.5 × longer than wide) and more acutely pointed posteriorly than that of australis (1.3 × longer than wide). The mesoscutum of namaquensis is very obviously and finely microsculptured (shagreened) with fine, discrete punctures; that of australis less obviously shagreened with moderately coarse, close, at times subconfluent punctures. As far as is known, the areas of distribution of namaquensis and of australis are well separated.

SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: NW of Pampoenpoort, near Natuurskoon Farm (30.57S, 22.29E), 23.ix.2009 (F. W. & S. K. Gess), 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (3♀♀, 1 ♂ visiting yellow flowers of blue rayed capitula of Felicia sp., Asteraceae; 1 ♀ visiting flowers of Felicia filifolia (Vent.) Burtt Davy, Asteraceae ); Carnarvon (30.59S, 22.07E), 24.ix.2009 (F. W. & S. K. Gess), 1 ♂ (visiting yellow flowers of blue/violet rayed capitula of Felicia dubia Cass., Asteraceae); Sutherland district, Bo-Visrivier road (32.25S, 20.39E), 7.x.2009 (F. W. & S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Leysera tenella DC, Asteraceae) – [all AMG].

To the previously recorded very marked association with Asteraceae (Gess 2011a: 36) may be added Felicia spp.

♂, SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Nuwerus (31.08S, 18.22E), 17.x.2000 (F. W. and S. K. Gess) (visiting yellow flowers of Pteronia sp., Asteraceae) [AMG].

SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: same data as holotype, 5 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ [AMG].

Small to medium sized (3.2–3.6 mm long). Fore wing with Cu1a and 2m-cu thin, the latter interrupted before reaching M. Tegula with posterior inner corner inwardly produced, anteriorly and posteriorly yellowish-white, medially usually dark ferruginous. POL: OOL= 1: ≥ 1. Temple unusually wide. Male with clypeus markedly contrasting and set off from frons by striking juxtaposition and sharp separation at suture of yellowish-white (of clypeus) and black (of frons); with broad paraocular streak carried upwards and narrowing to join (in some specimens) with crescent at bottom of ocular sinus. Sterna atuberculate.

Female (Figs 22, 24, 26): Black. Yellowish-white (tending to be suffused with ferruginous) are: basi-lateral area of mandible; narrow crescent at bottom of ocular sinus; streak of variable size (almost effaced in one specimen) on temple; pair of variably sized streaks (almost effaced in two specimens) anteriorly on pronotum; postero-dorsal angle of pronotum; minute spot at top of mesopleuron (in two specimens only); tegula (except medially where ferruginous); postero-medial spot on scutellum; medially interrupted scutellar lamella; posterior bands, medially anteriorly produced and progressively narrower, on terga I–IV; apex of femur, most of tibia and basal four tarsomeres of all legs. Various shades of ferruginous are: mandibles (other than basi-lateral area); labrum; anterior border of clypeus (in some specimens only); antennae (dark above, light beneath); tegula medially; markings on femor, fifth tarsomere and claws of all legs.

Length 3.5–3.6 mm; length of fore wing 2.1 mm.

Head in front view 1.1 × as wide as long. POL: OOL = 1: 1.03. Temple unusually wide. Clypeus 1.68 × as wide as long; distal margin shallowly emarginate.

Head, mesosoma and gaster microsculptured (shagreened), moderately shiny; frons and vertex with small, well separated, inconspicuous punctures; pronotum and mesoscutum with punctures slightly larger and more conspicuous than those on head; gaster with small, inconspicuous punctures.

Male (Figs 23, 25, 27): Black. Yellowish-white are: basi-lateral area of mandible; underside of first two flagellomeres of antennal club and basal part of third; clypeus (except small area below antennal socket, pair of indefinite ferruginous spots on upper half of disk and narrow broken transverse ferruginous line on lower half of disk) [clypeus markedly set off from frons by striking juxtaposition of yellowish-white and black at suture]; broad paraocular streak carried upwards and narrowing to join (in two specimens) with crescent at bottom of ocular sinus; large streak on temple; short, transverse anterior band drawn back along posterior margin of pronotum to postero-dorsal angle; streak on humeral angle; spot at top of mesopleuron; tegula (except medially where testaceous to ferruginous); postero-medial spot on scutellum; medially interrupted scutellar lamella; small spot to elongate streak on propodeal angle; posterior bands, laterally and medially anteriorly produced and progressively narrower, on terga I–VI; poorly defined posterior bands on most of sterna; apex of femur, most of tibia and basal four tarsomeres of all legs. Various shades of ferruginous are: mandibles (other than basi-lateral area); labrum; antennae (other than parts listed above); tegula medially; markings on femor, fifth tarsomere and claws of all legs. Ground colour of gaster varying from black to dark brown with ferruginous last tergum, sternum and parameres.

Length 3.2 mm; length of fore wing 2.0 mm.

Head in front view 1.26 × as wide as long. POL: OOL = 1: 1.15. Temple unusually wide. Clypeus 1.9 × as wide as long; distal margin slightly down turned and narrowly lamellate, very widely and shallowly emarginate. Labrum without any indication of median carina, pointed apically.

Tergum VII with disk evenly convex; with V-shaped apical incision and the lobes defining it rounded. Sterna atuberculate.

Surface sculpture as in female.

The name latigena serves to draw attention to the unusually wide temple in both the male and the female.

Known only from the type locality in southern Namaqualand, in the Succulent Karoo of Acocks (1953).

Asteraceae (Pteronia).

Unknown.

Smallto medium sized (presently studied females 3.2–3.6 mm). Fore wing with Cu1a and 2m-cu present but attenuate, much thinner than other veins, and with 2m-cu interrupted before reaching M. Tegula with posterior inner corner absolutely rounded. Female (Figs 28, 29, 30) with ground colour of head and mesosoma black, that of gaster reddish. Yellowish-white markings extensive, distributed as follows: on mandible (basally); on clypeus (apico-laterally and baso-medially); on frons (a spot in each ocular sinus and two more medially between latter; spots fused in most specimens to form a medially interrupted or even complete transverse band); on temple; on pronotum (anterior transverse band carried down to humeral angle; hind margin to postero-dorsal angle); on mesopleuron; on mesoscutum (two small antero-lateral spots and a larger postero-medial spot); on most of tegula; on scutellum (trilobed posterior band); on scutellar lamella; on propodeal angle; on gaster (posterior bands anteriorly produced medially and laterally); and on apex of femur, on tibia and on proximal tarsomeres of all legs. Male (unknown to present author; characters here given from Richards, 1962: 199) with trochanters and proximal half of femora with dense, rather long, “woolly" setae; tergumVII with a well marked angular emargination; sterna 7 + 8 flat, ending in a narrow black central process. Coloured similarly to female but labrum, entire clypeus yellowish-white.

SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Williston (31°20'S, 20°54'E) (1078m), 3.II.2006 (Carpenter & Davidson), 3 ♀♀ [AMNH]; WESTERN CAPE: 43 km ENE of Ceres on road to Sutherland [= Karoopoort] (33.12S, 19.44E), 2–3.xii.1989 (S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ (on flowers of Limonium sp., Plumbaginaceae); SSE of Calitzdorp at bridge over Remhoogte River (33.34S, 21.43E), 8.xi.2010 (F.W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting flowers of Peliostomum leucorrhizum E. Mey. ex Benth., Scrophulariaceae); EASTERN CAPE: Fullerton, [33.11S, 23.50E], 30.x.1967 (C. Jacot-Guillamod), 3 ♀♀ – [all AMG].

WESTERN CAPE:Matjesfontein [33.14S, 20.35E]; EASTERN CAPE: Willowmore [33.18S, 23.30E].

Known from a limited number of localities, all in the karroid areas of the Northern Cape, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

Plumbaginaceae (Limonium) and Scrophulariaceae (Peliostomum). Turner (1939) recorded the species from Aizoaceae: Mesembyanthema (“Mesembryanthemum").

See Gess (2009: 265).

SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Richtersveld National Park, Koeroegabvlakte (28.11S, 17.03E), 17–21& 24.ix.1995 (F. W., S. K. and R. W. Gess), 1 ♂ (on yellow flowers of Gorteria sp., Asteraceae); Augrabies (28.36S, 20.21E), 26.ii.2000 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 10 ♀♀ (visiting yellow flowers, Asteraceae); 25 km N[orth] of Kamieskroon (30.01S, 17.53E), 17.x.2000 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of ‘gazania", Asteraceae) – [all AMG]; Williston (31°20'S, 20°54'E) (1078m), 6.ii.2006 (Carpenter & Davidson), 1 ♀; Calvinia (31°28'S, 19°46'E) (981m), 5.ii.2006 (Carpenter & Davidson), 17 ♀♀, 1 ♂; WESTERN CAPE: Vanrhynsdorp (31°36'S, 18°45'E) (112m), 4.ii.2006 (Carpenter & Davidson), 1 ♀ – [all AMNH].

The data associated with the additional specimens slightly augment the known wide distribution of the speciesand reinforce the already demonstrated very strong association with Asteraceae.