Labena fusca, 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 : 26-29

Labena fusca sp. nov.

Figs. 37−38

Type material (2♀). Holotype. BRAZIL, Minas Gerais, Capitólio / Trilha do Sol , 12.VII.2012, / Malaise, Ponto II, J.F. Nunes & F. Naves cols. [collectors] (1♀, INPA) ; Paratype. Bahia, Jequié, Distrito de / Irrigação da

Fazenda Velha / 13º86’18.6”S {,} 40º15’79.5”W / Agroecossistemas, {Trap} Malaise / 09.VII.2005, Alves, F.P. leg. [collectors] (1♀, LRRP) .

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other Neotropical Labena species by a combination of the following characters: propodeum with area superomedia delineated anteriorly and posteriorly, separate from the area petiolaris; overall body color blackened.

Description. Holotype. Female. Body length 13.99− 6.4 mm, except ovipositor. Overall coloration is blackened ( Figs. 37A–D ). Head ( Figs. 37B–C ). Transverse black band between the occipital carina and the occiput. Transverse black stripe on ocellus, extending to the side of the frons. Antenna with 39 flagellomeres, measuring 10.2− 9.2 mm, cylindrical apex, flagellum dark brown, flagellomeres I and II ventrally dark brown. Mandible bidentate with striate base, upper tooth larger than lower tooth, mandible basal width 0.31− 0.15 mm. Malar space width 0.17 mm. Ocellus diameter 0.56 mm, distance between anterior and posterior ocellus 0.13 mm; shortest distance between posterior ocellus and compound eye 0.21 mm; distance between the posterior ocelli 0.29 mm. Compound eye length 1.85 mm. Frons slightly convex, finely punctate fine, sparse setae, width of 1.08 mm. Face slightly striate, with a median carina, width 0.90 mm. Wing. Fore wing 11.9 mm long, hyaline with a light brown spot along the upper part; areolet shorter than the length of the distal abscissa of M, with 2rs-m slightly smaller than 3rs-m. Hind wing 9 mm long. Mesosoma ( Fig. 37E ). Mesoscutum with black border, with three longitudinal black bands. Pronotum without epomia, upper posterior part punctate, and with dense setae. Propleura punctate and with dense setae. Scuto-scutellar groove black, shallow, smooth. Scutellum flat, punctate with sparse setae, yellow with black upper part. Metanotum (postscutellum) yellow with two brown transverse bands. Propodeum with anterior part with a transverse black band extending laterally to ⅓ of the total length of the propodeum; area basalis square, longer than wide completely light brown; area externa as wider than long, without spot; area dentipara without spot; area postero-externa without light brown spot; area petiolaris obliterated by lateromedian longitudinal carina, without light brown upper part; area superomedia slightly wider than long, with well-defined anterior transverse carina, centrally delineated posterior transverse carina; lateral longitudinal carina complete. Fore legs with one tibial spur, tarsomeres with apical setae fringes; mid legs with the medially dilated tibia, with two tibial spurs and slender setae scattered on the outer surface; hind legs slender, not medially dilated, with darker tibia and tarsomeres, with two tibial spurs. Metasoma. Tergite I 1.91 mm in length, basal width 0.47 mm and apical width 0.97 mm; tergite II 1.75 mm in length, basal width 1.22 mm and apical width 1.91 mm; tergite III 1.16 mm in length, basal width 2.08 mm and apical width 2.33 mm. Metasoma brown with tergite I brown, with a yellow basal spot; tergite II brown anteriorly and yellow posteriorly. Ovipositor laterally compressed with non-tapered apex; upper valve with pre-apical longitudinal carina and transverse striae at apex; lower valve with small sparse pre-apical teeth and transverse striae at the apex.

Male. Unknown.

Holotype condition. Antenna with broken apex; fore wing with apex damaged.

Etymology. From the Latin fuscus = brown, in reference to the brown colors of the body of holotype.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. Brazil (Bahia and Minas Gerais) ( Fig. 38 ).

Discussion. Labena fusca sp. nov. is morphologically similar to Labena marginata Szépligeti, 1914 , as both have a propodeum with the external area wider than long, the lateral area is almost as long as it is wide, slightly transverse, and lateromedian longitudinal carina obliterated. However, Labena fusca sp. nov. differs from Labena marginata by the dark coloration pattern, ranging from dark brown to pale yellow overall the body, the posterior areas of the propodeum being wider than long and base of the hind tibia having a row of setae on the outer surface. Labena marginata has a yellow-orange color pattern all over the body, with some spots on the upper part of the propodeum, upper part of the metapleuron and mesopleuron, and the base of the hind tibia with a cluster of setae on the outer surface. Labena fusca sp. nov. was allocated to the grallator species group, however, it has two characters that do not find into this species group, which are: area superomedia hexagonal and transverse, and the outer surface of the mid tibia with a row of robust flattened setae. However, until a revision of the species groups is carried out and the boundaries are established, we have opted to place Labena fusca sp. nov. in the grallator species group.

Figures

FIGURE 37. A–F. Female of Labena fusca 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 38. Geographic distribution of Labena fusca sp. nov. in Brazil (yellow star= type locality.