This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1924 and named Orthenches chartularia using a male specimen collected in January at Mount Ruapehu at 4,000 ft. by George Hudson.[3] In 1927 Alfred Philpott, believing he was describing a new species, described this species and named it Orthenches nivalis.[4] Philpott used a specimen collected at Arthur's Pass in February.[4]George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[5] Philpott corrected his error in 1931, synonymising O. nivalis with O. chartularia.[6] The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]
Description
Illustration by George Hudson.
Meyrick described this species as follows:
♂. 16 mm. Head and thorax whitish. Palpi dark grey, tips of second and terminal joints white. Forewings elongate, apex obtuse-pointed, termen slightly rounded, rather strongly oblique; whitish, irregularly strewn with dark-fuscous strigulae partially mixed with grey suffusion; four small dark-fuscous spots on costa from before middle to 5⁄6, and four somewhat larger in a median longitudinal series from 1⁄3 to 5⁄6; four dark-fuscous dots on posterior half of dorsum: cilia whitish, a grey basal shade, at apex a grey bar. Hindwings grey-whitish; cilia whitish.[3]
Hudson pointed out that this species is variable in the intensity and extent of the black markings on its forewings.[5]
Distribution and habitat
This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North and South Islands.[7] The preferred habitat of this species is open grassy areas in native subalpine forest.[5]
Behaviour
Adults of this species are on the wing in January and February.[4][5]
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