Tingena epichalca

This species was originally described by Edward Meyrick in 1886 using specimens collected at Arthur's Pass in January and named Cremnogenes epichalca.^[3] In 1915 Meyrick discussed this species under the name Borkhausenia epichalca.^[4] In 1926 Alfred Philpott discussed and illustrated the genitalia of the male of this species.^[5] In 1928 George Hudson also discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.^[6] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Tingena.^[2] The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.^[2]

Meyrick described this species as follows:

♂12-15 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax shining bronzy-ochreous. Antennae dark bronzy-fuscous, ciliations 2+1⁄2, whorled. Abdomen dark bronzy-grey. Legs bronzy-ochreous, anterior pair suffused with grey. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex round-pointed, hindmargin very obliquely rounded; shining bronzy-ochreous, usually without markings; rarely a dot on fold, a second in disc beyond middle, and a posterior transverse angulated line obscurely grey : cilia pale bronzy-ochreous. Hindwings grey, with purplish reflections; cilia pale greyish-ochreous.^[3]

This species is very similar in appearance to Tingena aphrontis but can be distinguished on the basis of different antennal ciliations of the male of the species.^[3] The species varies in depth of colouration.^[6]

This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at its type locality of Arthur's Pass.^[1][3] It has also been observed in the mountains around Otira at altitudes of approximately 3000 ft.^[6]

The adults of this species are on the wing in January.^[6]

This species inhabits alpine zones and is associated with alpine vegetation on the boarder of scree slopes at altitudes of between 3000 and 4000 ft.^[6]