Epichorista crypsidora

Epichorista crypsidora is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1909. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits open glades in native forest and scrub. Adults are on the wing from November until January. They are day flying and active in bright sunshine.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1909 using a specimen collected at Western Plains, Invercargill by Alfred Philpott and named Dipterina crypsidora. In 1914 Meyrick, thinking he was describing a new species, named this moth Epichorista carcharodes. In 1923 Meyrick placed Dipterina crypsiodra in the genus Epichorista. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name Epichorista crysidora in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Hudson also synonymised Epichorista carcharodes. Also in 1928 Alfred Philpott discussed the male genitalia of this species. As at 2025, this species is regarded as being taxonomically unresolved as it likely belongs to another genus. It is therefore also known as Epichorista ''crypsidora''. The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Meyrick described the male of this species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It has been observed in both the North and South Islands.

Habitat and hosts

E. crypsidora inhabit open glades in native forest or scrub. The larval host plants of this species are species in the genus Urtica including ''Urtica ferox, Urtica aspera, Urtica linearifolia and Urtica sykesii.''

Behaviour

Adults are on the wing from November until January. They are day flying and are active in bright sunshine.