Labena larae, Marinho & Fernandes, 2025

Marinho, Luana S. & Fernandes, Daniell R. R., 2025, Taxonomy of Labena Cresson, 1864 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Labeninae) from Brazil, with description of two new species, Zootaxa 5660 (1), pp. 1-52 : 45-47

Labena larae sp. nov.

Figs. 52–53

Type material ( 1♀). Holotype. BRAZIL, São Paulo, Luiz Antônio, / Estação Ecológica de Jataí / 21º36’47.4’’S, 47º49’04.1’’W / Mata Ciliar - Light trap. 1./ 16.I.2008, RIR Lara leg. (1♀, LRRP).

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other Neotropical Labena species by the combination of the following characters: Metapleuron centrally with longitudinal striae; mesoscutum with notaulus impressed; propodeum with area superomedia longer than wide, with area postero-externa concave.

Description. Female. Holotype. Body length 20.2 mm, except ovipositor. Overall coloration yellow-orange ( Fig. 52A–D ) Head ( Fig. 52B–C ). Without transverse black band between the occipital carina and the occiput; without a transverse black band on the ocellus. Antenna with 49 flagellomeres, measuring 14.8 mm, with compressed apex; flagellum light brown. Mandible bidentate with striate base, upper tooth larger than the lower tooth; mandible basal width 0.50 mm. Malar space width 0.19 mm. Ocellus diameter 0.62 mm; distance between anterior and posterior ocellus of 0.14 mm; shorter distance between posterior ocellus and compound eye of 0.31 mm; distance between the posterior ocelli of 0.28 mm. Compound eyes length 2.12 mm. Frons slightly concave, finely punctate with fine and sparse setae, a width of 1.25 mm. Face very striate, width of 1.27 mm. Wings ( Fig. 52A ). Fore wing with a length of 16.2 mm, hyaline with a light brown spot at the apex; areolet longer than the length of the distal abscissa of M, with 3rs-m greater than 2rs. Hind wing length 10.2 mm. Mesosoma. Mesoscutum with black border, without three longitudinal black bands, marked notaulus. Pronotum with epomia without punctate upper posterior part and without dense setae. Propleuron punctate and with dense setae. Scuto-scutellar groove black, shallow, with dense setae. Scutellum flat, punctate with dense setae, completely orange-yellow. Metanotum (postscutellum) completely yellow-orange. Propodeum anterior part without transverse band ( Fig. 52E ); area basalis reduced very longer than wide, funnel-shaped, completely yellow-orange; area externa very longer than wide, without diagonal black spot; area dentipara without spot, well delineated; area postero-externa without spot; area petiolaris obliterated by lateromedian longitudinal carina, without black upper region; area superomedia very longer than wide, with anterior transverse carina delineated, posterior transverse carina delineated; fore legs with a tibial spur, tarsomeres with apical setae fringes; mid legs with medially dilated tibiae, with two tibial spurs, without scattered slender setae on outer surface; hind legs slender, not medially dilated. Metasoma. Tergites I 1.31 mm in length, basal width 0.46 mm and apical width 1.17 mm; tergites II 2.19 mm in length, basal width 1.00 mm and apical width 1.29 mm; tergites III 1.85 mm in length, basal width 1.35 mm and apical width 1.75 mm; metasoma completely reddish-yellow. Ovipositor laterally compressed, apex tapering, transverse striae marked pre-apical; upper valve with marked transverse striae; lower valve with marked longitudinal striae and small proximal teeth.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet is dedicated to Rogéria Inês Rosa Lara, eminent researcher of Neotropical Hemerobiidae ( Neuroptera ), who collected the holotype.

Holotype condition. Broken antenna apex.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. Brazil (São Paulo) ( Fig. 53 ).

Discussion. Labena larae sp. nov. is very similar to Labena striata Townes, 1966 , in that both have metapleuron centrally with longitudinal striae, mesoscutum with marked notaulus, and propodeum with elongated area superomedia. However, Labena larae sp. nov. is distinguished by body color being completely orange-yellow, propodeum with the absence of a black spot in the area superomedia, and area dentipara has a rectangular shape. Labena striata , on the other hand, has a yellow body color, propodeum with a black spot in the area superomedia, and area dentipara has a trapezoidal shape. Labena larae sp. nov. was allocated striata species-group.

Figures

FIGURE 52. A–F. Female of Labena larae sp. nov. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Head, front view. D. Habitus, dorsal view. E. Propodeum, dorsal view. F. Apex of ovipositor, lateral view.

FIGURE 53. Geographic distribution of Labena larae sp. nov. in Brazil (yellow star= type locality).