[2] This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island.

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1907 using specimens collected in Invercargill and named Asaphodes stephanitis.

[3] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.

[2] The male lectotype specimen, collected at Invercargill, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Forewings triangular, costa gently arched, termen bowed, oblique, slightly waved; clear light yellow-ochreous; fasciae formed by dentate striae of blackish irroration, first and second separated by a suffused whitish line, second obsolete except on extremities; third reduced to a single curved stria, preceded by a white line, and followed by white suffusion above and below middle; fourth of three striae, posterior edge with acute short triangular projection in middle, followed by a strong white line; fifth of two striae, posterior sometimes very thick and suffused, followed by white subterminal line, sometimes partially obscured; sixth of one stria following subterminal line, terminated above by an oblique subapical suffusion; a blackish terminal line: cilia white, barred with blackish irroration.