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.

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.

As well as its type locality, this species has also been found in Naseby State Forest, at Roaring Meg and South Rough Ridge Hill.