Chrysorthenches argentea

The mature lava is between 7 and 8 mm in length, has a brown head and a green or tan body marked with a chevron like pattern. Dugdale described the adults of this species as follows:

Wing span 10.5–12.0 mm. Colour pattern: head with upper and lower frons pale grey centrally, brown-grey laterally; antennal scape black, with a conspicuous white stripe along posterior margin; pedicel and proximal 4 flagellomeres black-scaled dorsally, other flagellomeres completely ringed with black and white; gular area white-scaled. Forewing brassy, with transverse bands narrow in cf, broader in 9 and with a few black scales included; iridescent purple areas at apex of discal cell and along CuP. Third white band (postmedian) inwardly oblique, not aligned with the 2 white costal patches beyond the 2nd (antemedian) band. Hindwings and abdomen pale to dark grey.This species can be distinguished from similar appearing species as it lacks the white head and thorax of C. phyllocladi as well as the curved, lengthways stripe at the base of the forewing of C. glypharcha.

This species is endemic to New Zealand. As well as the type locality, this species has been collected at Ōkārito and possibly also at National Park, although this latter specimen was reared from larvae on Halocarpus bidwillii and was unable to be substantiated.

The almost matured larvae consume the tips of shoots of their host, turning them brown and causing them to drop from the tree after a few weeks. The adult moths are on the wing in December.