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The group E. argentella live in a wide range of habitats including arctic tundra, alpine meadows, wetlands and grassland prairie (Kaila 1997). In Alberta, E. aurocristata adults have been encountered in southern boreal habitats.

Elachista aurocristata is categorized in the E. argentella grouping (Kaila 1997). This group is characterized by having a smooth scaled head, somewhat raised neck tufts and antennae that are approximately 2/3 the length of the forewing (Kaila 1997). The wings are lanceolate with the hindwings being grey and translucent (Kaila 1997). The forewings are acute at the tip and typically white (Kaila 1997). Elachista aurocristata is closely related to E. orestella which is also encountered in Alberta. Elachista aurocristata is larger than E. orestella with a forewing length between 4.8 – 5.5 mm (Kaila 1997). The two spots at the midpoint of the forewing and at the 2/3 of the wing at the fold are faint and brownish in E. aurocristata and dark in E. orestella (Kaila 1997). The aedeagus of male E. aurocristata is longer than the length of the tegument and uncus combined (Kaila 1997).