Apechoneura fuentesi Zuñiga & Hanson, 2025

Zuñiga, Ronald & Hanson, Paul, 2025, Three new species of Labeninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from Costa Rica, Zootaxa 5728 (3), pp. 579-587 : 580-581

Apechoneura fuentesi Zuñiga & Hanson , sp. nov.

( Figs 1–3 )

Material examined. Holotype ♀: Costa Rica, Alajuela Prov. P. N. Volcán Tenorio, falda Norte Volcán Tenorio 1 Los Quemados , 1200–1300 m, iii–iv.2010, J.A. Azofeifa, INB0003318882 ( MNCR) . Paratype ♀: Cartago, Prov. P.N. Barbilla, Sector principal Río Barbilla , 485m, iv. 2001, F. Umaña, INB0004256770 ( MNCR)

Diagnosis. This species can be readily recognized by its predominantly black body, with just a few white markings ( Figs 1–2 ). Other key characters include: hind wing with distal abscissa of Cu 1 joining cu-a; epicnemial carina present; sternal region of mesothorax smooth and polished.

Description. Female. Fore wing length 13.2–13.5 mm. Clypeus with a strong transverse ridge near apex; malar space 0.5–0.6 × as long as basal mandibular width; lower face with scattered punctures, at narrowest point 1.1 × as wide as height from clypeofacial suture to insertion of antenna ( Fig. 2 ); hypostomal carina rather weak, joined by occipital carina close to base of mandible; posterior ocellus separated from eye by 1.2–1.4 × its own maximum diameter. Antenna with first flagellomere 0.8–0.9 × as long as second; subapical flagellomeres slightly elongate. Pronotum with upper hind margin strongly raised, forming a conical projection surmounted by a crest; scutoscutellar groove broad and deep; scutellum mostly smooth; epicnemial carina ventrally complete, laterally barely reaching lower corner of pronotum, its upper end curved anteriorly but remote from pleural margin, medioventrally protruding forwards in a weak V-shaped notch; sternal region of mesothorax smooth and polished, longitudinal groove along midline very shallow and barely evident, posterior transverse carina represented by lateromedian crests; metapleuron with a low rounded swelling near posterior end; submetapleural carina moderately expanded, with fairly strong median denticle. Propodeum in profile more or less flat; mostly smooth and shining, with anterior transverse carina complete, though somewhat irregular and slightly weaker mediodorsally ( Fig. 3 ); lateromedian longitudinal carinae absent; lateral longitudinal carina complete, though obscured by setae anteriorly; area spiracularis and area lateralis distinct, but other areae not delineated. Fore leg with tibia slightly inflated distally, tarsus with long hairs on inner surface; mid tibia bearing three very short stout spines at apex; hind coxa with anterior furrow broadly and quite deeply impressed, expanded ventrally, with fringe of fine inconspicuous hairs. Fore wing with areolet large, anteriorly narrowly pointed with 2 rs-m meeting 3 rs-m, 2 m-cu joining areolet more or less in middle; 1 m-cu about 0.7 × length of abscissa of Cu 1 between Rs&M and 1 m-cu; hind wing with distal abscissa of Cu 1 joining cu-a. Metasoma with tergite I slender, about 2.5 × as long as posteriorly wide; sternite I short, reaching about 0.3 of length of tergite, with a weak median swelling; tergite II about 1.8 × as long as wide, smooth; tergite VII mediodorsally with a shallow Vshaped indentation posteriorly; tergite VIII in lateral view tapered to bluntly rounded apex, without cornus, and with scattered pubescence. Ovipositor extending beyond tip of metasoma by about 4.5–5.0 × length of hind tibia.

Coloration. A shining black species ( Fig. 1 ). Flagellum black with flagellomeres 26–29 white; head black with white marks in center of lower face, malar space and along inner eye margin ( Fig. 2 ); a pair of small white marks present on dorso-posterior propodeum and another pair below the attachment of the metasoma. Fore leg white anteriorly, tarsus dull whitish dorsally except apical tarsomere which is apically black. Mid leg with coxa white ventrally (internally), dorsally black; trochanter mostly white except dorsally; femur black with white mark distally; tibia white anteriorly, posteriorly black; tarsus entirely black. Hind legs black, coxa with a small white stripe dorsally; trochanter white ventrally; tibia with a white mark basally; hind tarsus white except for first tarsomere and apex of last tarsomere. Fore wing hyaline, with a distinct subapical black spot; pterostigma black. Ovipositor sheath mostly black with subapical white band, narrowly black at apex.

Male. Unknown.

Remarks. Only two females have been collected: in the lowlands of the Caribbean area of the Talamanca mountain range and on the eastern slope of the Guanacaste mountain range. A modification of the key to Costa Rican Apechoneura species is given below. Apechoneura fuentesi is most like A. compacta Gauld but differs by being almost completely black with a more slender body, and with the sternal region of the mesothorax being polished with a barely evident longitudinal groove along the midline. It is possible that A. fuentesi belongs to the compacta species-group, but a male specimen is needed for confirmation since this group was partially defined by males having a flattened hirsute patch on the hind tibia (Gauld 2000, p. 384).

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Gilbert Fuentes for his long term dedication to compiling a national bibliography on tropical biology (BINABITROP) for the Organization for Tropical Studies.

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Apechoneura fuentesi. 1. Lateral habitus. 2. Head, frontal view. 3 Propodeum, dorsal view.