Epichorista tenebrosa

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1917 from a specimen collected at Ben Lomond by Charles E. Clarke in February.^[3][4] In 1926 Meyrick confirmed the placement of this species in the genus Epichorista.^[5] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.^[6] The genus level classification of New Zealand endemic moths within Epichorista is regarded as unsatisfactory and needs revision.^[7][1] As such this species is currently also known as Epichorista (s.l.) tenebrosa.^[2] The male holotype is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.^[4]

Philpott described the species as follows:

♂︎ 25-28 mm.; ♀︎ 22 mm. Head and palpi ochreous-grey mixed with brown, palpi 3. Antennal ciliations of ♂︎ 1+1⁄2. Thorax purplish-brown sprinkled with brown. Abdomen ochreous-grey. Forewings elongate-triangular in ♂︎, suboblong in ♀︎, costa almost straight, without fold, apex obtuse, termen subsinuate, hardly oblique; dull grey-brawn with purplish gloss and numerous obscure strigulations of reddish or fuscous; margin of basal patch usually indicated by a more pronounced irregular strigula; median fascia from 1⁄3 costa, irregular, outwardly oblique, inner margin only marked : cilia grey mixed with brown. Hindwings fuscous-grey, obscurely mottled with darker : cilia grey with darker basal line.^[3]

The female has shortened wings.^[8]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^[9] It is found in Central Otago. As well as its type locality, this species has also been found in Naseby State Forest, at Roaring Meg and South Rough Ridge Hill.^[8] It has also been found at the Coronet Peak ski field.^[10]

This species is a late autumn emerging moth.^[11] It is on the wing in February.^[6]