Teulisna (Poikilothosia) protuberans (Moore, 1878)

(Figs 33–35, 113, 159, 160)

Tegulata protuberans Moore, 1878, Proceedings of the general meetings for scientific business of the Zoological Society of London, 1878: 23, pl. 2, fig. 6 (Type locality: [NE India, north of West Bengal, Darjeeling] “ Darjiling ”).

Type material examined. Lectotype (designated herein) (Figs 33, 159): female, “Darjeeling.” / “ Tegulata | protuberans ♀. | (type). Moore” / “coll. Atkinson | Moore” / pink label “Origin.” / “Coll. | Staudinger” / “764.” / “258.” / “ Ilema | protuberans Moore | sq. Hmpsn.” (MfN).

Additional material examined. INDIA: 1 male, Sikkim, Mt. Kanchenjunga (SE), 27°30'N 88°20'E, 2600m, 9–10.viii.1995, E. Afonin & V. Sinyaev leg., gen. slide Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021- 342♂ (MWM / ZSM); 2 males, 1 female, same locality and collectors as previous but 2000m, 22–31.vii.1995, gen. slide Nos: ZSM Arct. 2021- 461♂, 2021- 462♀ (MWM / ZSM); 1 male, Sikkim, 5000', Aug. [18]95, Pilcher [leg.] / Pilcher coll., Pres. 1917 [by] Mrs Pilcher, gen. slide No.: AV7564 ♂ (OUMNH); 1 male, Gopaldhara, Mirik, Sikkim, H. Stevens [leg.] / Rothschild Bequest, B.M. 1939-1 (NHMUK); 1 male, [Sikkim] Kurseong, A. Hilsons [leg.], unique ID: NHMUK010292598 (NHMUK).

Note. The species was described from an unspecified number of female specimens deposited in the collection of Otto Staudinger (currently housed in MfN, Berlin) (Moore 1878), which makes the existence of syntypes possible. In order to stabilise the nomenclature, the specimen having Moore’s handwritten type label along with the Staudinger’s pink “Origin.” type label is herein designated as the lectotype.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 12.5–13.5 mm in males and 13.5–15.0 mm in females. The male of T. protuberans differs from other similar congeners in the more contrast forewing pattern with intense rusty and slate grey suffusion in the medial and postmedial areas, respectively. The female of T. protuberans is very similar to another Himalayan species, T. distributa and differs only in the dark grey suffusion on the forewing. The male genitalia of T. protuberans are most reminiscent of T. inthanona sp. n. but differ in the shorter pseudoampulla directed more inwards, the distally narrower distal saccular process, and the markedly broader, longer and medially twisted proximal section of the vesica having a considerably larger ventral (proximal) diverticulum, the shorter and broader, conical medial diverticulum lacking the cornutus, and the shorter and broader distal diverticulum with a smaller, horn-shaped terminal cornutus, which is thorn-shaped with a broader base in T. inthanona sp. n. In the female genitalia, T. protuberans can be easily distinguished from other congeners by the long, narrow, membranous and finely scobinate corpus bursae having two irregular gelatinous and rugose postero-lateral protrusions at the junction with the ductus bursae, and a large heavily gelatinous latero-anterior protrusion.

Distribution. The species is known from Northeast India (Sikkim and north of West Bengal).