Chrysorthenches porphyritis is a species of moth in the family Plutellidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found on both the North and South Islands in open native forests and scrubs at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1370 m. The larvae feed on Podocarpus laetus, P. totara, P. nivalis, and Phyllocladus alpinus. The larvae create shelters by loosely spinning together the leaves of their host plants and can be found feeding in groups. The pupa develops inside a thin cocoon. Hudson believed this species had two broods a year. Adult moths are active throughout the year. The adults of this species, particularly the females, exhibit variability in coloration and forewing patterns.
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 and named Orthenches porphyritis. Meyrick provided a more detailed description of the species in 1886. In 1901, under the impression he was describing a new species, Meyrick named this moth Ypononmeuta cuprea. Meyrick synonymized this name in 1923. In 1927 Alfred Philpott, studied the male genitalia of this species. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand and again discussed the species in his 1939 book A Supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1996 John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Chrysorthenches. The female lectotype, collected in Dunedin in August, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.
Meyrick described the larvae of the species as follows:
Meyrick described the adults of the species as follows: This species, particularly the females, exhibits extreme variability in coloration and forewing markings.
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.
The species prefers to inhabit open native forest and scrub. The larval hosts of C. porphyritis are Podocarpus laetus, P. totara, P. nivalis, and Phyllocladus alpinus. The larvae are normally found feeding on P. alpinus where there are nearby Podocarpus species.
In 2020 this species along with the other species in the genus Chrysorthenches had their morphological characters studied.