This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883 using specimens collected at Lake Guyon by R. W. Fereday and named Hermione xanthaspis.

[8] The male lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Forewings moderate; hindmargin hardly bowed; bright yellow; costa suffused with reddish-fuscous, and marked with five short oblique darker marks; a transverse oval dark fuscous spot in disc above middle, sometimes touching costal suffusion; a transverse row of very faint fuscous dots from last costal mark.

[4]Epiphryne xanthaspis is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the central North Island south.

[7][9] Adults are regarded as being 'medium fliers' with intermedia flight powers and remain active in light breezes.