Chrysorthenches porphyritis

Meyrick described the larvae of the species as follows:

Larva 16-legged, moderate, cylindrical, rather tapering at both ends; dull light greenish - ochreous; dorsal narrow, ochreous-whitish, bordered on each side by a slender dull reddish-fuscous streak, coalescing towards extremities; head brownish-ochreous Meyrick described the adults of the species as follows:

Male, female. — 11-14 mm. Head light ochreous. Palpi long, light ochreous or whitish, externally suffused with dark fuscous, terminal joint twice as long as second. Antennae whitish, annulated with dark fuscous. Thorax ochreous, mixed and suffused with purplish and dark fuscous. Abdomen grey. Legs dark fuscous, apex of joints and posterior tibiae whitish. Forewings elongate, narrow, costa arched, apex acute, hind-margin very obliquely sinuate; brownish-ochreous, with purple or coppery reflections, sometimes mixed with grey-whitish; an irregular irroration of small dark fuscous spots; markings suffused, deep bronzy or violet-fuscous, very variable; normally a fascia-like rather oblique streak from costa at 1⁄4, usually abbreviated, but sometimes reaching inner margin, an irregular median fascia parallel to this, connected by a bar with costa at 3⁄4, and a narrow fascia from costa before apex to anal angle, but these are sometimes incomplete or partially suffused; in one specimen, traces of a longitudinal white median …

This species is endemic to New Zealand and have been collected throughout the North and South Islands. The adult moths have been collected at altitudes from sea level up to 1370 m.

The larvae feed from a structure created by loosely spinning together the leaves of their host plant. They are often found feeding in groups. When pupating the insect forms a pupa inside a thin cocoon. Hudson was of the opinion that this species had two broods during each year with adults being on the wing more commonly in September and again in March. However this moth has been collected all year round.