It has been found in short-lived wetlands at elevations between 640 and 1000 metres, but only in the areas of the Denniston Plateau and the nearby Mount Rochfort in the Buller District of the West Coast Region of the South Island.

The species was discovered by Brian Patrick in 2012, during a bio-blitz on the Denniston Plateau organised by Forest & Bird as part of a campaign against the planned development of an open-cast coal mine by Bathurst Resources.

A new species of day-flying moth was discovered by Brian Patrick and his son in March 2012,[3] during a bio-blitz on the Denniston Plateau organised by Forest & Bird, who were campaigning against the planned development of an open-cast coal mine by Bathurst Resources.

Hindwing with dark antemedian line reaching much further across wing than in titanica (about half way to costa), and then diverting basad to join small variably distinct discal dot; terminal line present as dark brown fascia, with weakly scalloped inner margin; black dashes along termen absent.

[2] It has been hypothesised that the sole host of the larvae of this species is Liparophyllum gunnii, as females have been observed laying eggs on the underside of the leaves of this plant.

[2] An attempt was made to rear this species in captivity, with the larvae being feed on wilting leaves, stems and roots of this plant, but this was unsuccessful.

[5] Since this classification this moth has also been located at Mount Rochfort, near the type locality of the species, but it is still regarded as being extremely localised.