Epichorista fraudulenta
Epichorista fraudulenta is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1928. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the Arthur Range. This species is superficially very similar to Epichorista emphhanes. The female moth is extremely variable. Adults are on the wing in February and March.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott using specimens collected by Philpott in February and March at Gordon's Pyramid and at the Mount Arthur Tableland in the Arthur Range in 1928. It was originally named Eurythecta fraudulenta. Later in 1928 Philpott placed this species in the genus Epichorista. George Hudson discussed this species as a synonym of Epichorista emphanes in his 1939 book A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. This species is regarded as being taxonomically unresolved as it likely belongs to another genus. It is therefore also known as Epichorista ''emphanes''. The male holotype specimen, collected at Mount Arthur, is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.Description
Philpott described this species as follows:Philpott pointed out that E. fraudulenta is superficially very similar to Epichorista emphhanes. The female is extremely variable with one example having the first and second fasciae united and forming a broad white band across the wing.