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.[2][3] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[4] The genus level classification of New Zealand endemic moths within Epichorista is regarded as unsatisfactory and is under revision.[5] As such this species is currently also known as Epichorista (s.l.) tenebrosa.[1] The type specimen is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[3]

Illustration of E. tenebrosa by George Hudson.

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.[2]

Ben Lomond, type locality for E. tenebrosa.

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[6] It is found in the 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.[7]

This species is a late autumn emerging moth.[8] It is on the wing in February.[4]

Hudson noted that the type specimen was found at an altitude of 4000 ft in tussock grasslands.[4] The species has subsequently been collected from similar habitat.[7]

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "At Risk, Relict".[9]