Epichorista aspistana is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in Canterbury and Otago. This species inhabits moist grassy areas at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1650m. Larvae feed on species within the genus Acaena. Adults are on the wing from November to February.
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1882 using specimens collected by J. D. Enys at Porters Pass and named Proselena aspistana. Meyrick went on to give a fuller description of the species in 1883. In 1911 Meyrick placed this species in the genus Epichorista. George Hudson, in 1928, discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Also in 1928 Alfred Philpott discussed and illustrated the male genitalia of this species. In 1988 J. S. Dugdale confirmed this placement. In 2010 this placement was again confirmed by Robert Hoare in the New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. The male lectotype, collected at Castle Hill, Porters Pass in Canterbury, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.
Meyrick described this species as follows:
Hudson pointed out that the female is smaller with the wings narrower; there is a large, pale patch at the extreme base of the forewings converting the basal marking into a broad band and the pale central portion of the large costal patch is much more pronounced than in the male.
This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been found at the species type locality of Porters Pass as well as at near Dunedin.
This species inhabits moist grassy areas and has been collected at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1650m.
Larvae of this species have been collected on plants in the genus Acaena.
The larvae of this species web the leaves of its host plants together and feed from this shelter. The adults of this species are on the wing from November to February.