Teulisna (Poikilothosia) quadrisignata ( Moore, 1878 )

Volynkin, Anton V., Černý, Karel & Huang, Si-Yao, 2025, On the generic assignment of the taxa placed in the Oriental footman-moth genus Teulisna with the description of three new genera, one subgenus and eighteen new species, Ecologica Montenegrina 88, pp. 104-163 : 129-130

Teulisna (Poikilothosia) quadrisignata ( Moore, 1878)

( Figs 90, 91 , 143 , 180 )

Cossa quadrisignata Moore, 1878 , Proceedings of the general meetings for scientific business of the Zoological Society of London, 1878: 21 (Type locality: [NE India, West Bengal, Darjeeling] “ Darjiling ”).

= Cossa brunnea Moore, 1878 , Proceedings of the general meetings for scientific business of the Zoological Society of London, 1878: 22 (Type locality: [NE India, West Bengal, Darjeeling] “ Darjiling ”).

Type material examined. Lectotype of Cossa quadrisignata (designated by Volynkin 2023c) ( Figs 90 , 143 ): male, “Darj.[eeling]” / “ Cossa | quadrisignata. | (type) Moore” / “coll. Atkinson | Moore” / “ Ilema | quadrisignata | Moore | s.g. Hmpsn.” / “* 308.” / “762” / “Coll. | Staudinger” / pink label “Origin.”, DNA voucher No. MFNLEP1045, gen. slide No.: MfN-367 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MfN). Lectotype of Cossa brunnea (designated by Volynkin 2023c) ( Fig. 91 ): female with abdomen of Brunia antica glued on, “Darj.[eeling]” / “ Cossa | brunnea. ♀. | (type) Moore” / “coll. Atkinson | Moore” / “ Ilema | brunnea | Moore | s.g. Hmpsn.” / “276.” / “759” / “Coll. | Staudinger” / pink label “Origin.”, DNA voucher No. MFNLEP1042, gen. slide No.: MfN-364 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MfN).

Additional material examined. INDIA: 1 female, Sikkim, 7000 ft., Aug. 1896, Pilcher / 99– 206., unique ID: NHMUK010292595 ( NHMUK) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 13.0 mm in the male lectotype and 13.5 mm in females. Teulisna quadrisignata is most morphologically similar to T. thomasi , from which it differs externally in the somewhat smaller size, the slightly narrower forewing with a markedly darker, brown ground colour (it is deep ochreous in the congener), the more intense dark suffusion in the medial area of the forewing, the darker subterminal area with a diffuse submarginal line, and the larger proximal costal spot in the male. Additionally, the female of T. quadrisignata has a remarkably darker hindwing than in T. thomasi . In the male genital capsule, T. quadrisignata differs from T. thomasi in the nearly straight lamella centralis (it is downcurved in T. thomasi ), the narrower distal saccular process with a smaller ventral lobe, and the somewhat shorter vinculum. The phallus of T. quadrisignata is proximally broader than in T. thomasi . The vesica of T. quadrisignata is markedly narrower than in the similar congener and has a proximal dorsal diverticulum (it is absent in T. thomasi ); the proximal ventral diverticulum is shorter, and the terminal cornutus is considerably longer and nearly straight whereas it is medially curved in T. thomasi . Additionally, compared to T. thomasi , the medial ventral diverticulum of T. quadrisignata is longer and broader. The female genitalia of T. quadrisignata differ from T. thomasi in the shorter and narrower ductus bursae, the more medially constricted corpus bursae with a more rugose posterior gelatinous section having a ventral pocket, and a smaller anterior globular membranous section, and the conical and more rugose appendix bursae, which is saccate in T. thomasi .

Distribution. The species is currently known from Northeast India (northern West Bengal and Sikkim).

Figures

Figures 78–91. Adults of Teulisna (Poikilothosia) spp. Depositories of the specimens: 78, 79 and 85 in NHMUK; 80 in ZSM (ex CGM); 81 in CGM; 82–84 and 86–89 in MWM/ZSM. 90 and 91 in MfN.

Figures 142–144. Male genitalia of Teulisna (Poikilothosia) spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 142 and 144 in MWM/ZSM; 143 in MfN.

Figures 178–181. Female genitalia of Teulisna (Poikilothosia) spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 178 and 180 in NHMUK; 179 and 181 in MWM/ZSM.