This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 using specimens collected at Kaitoke and Karori in December and March, and named Simaethis antigrapha.

[4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

[6] In 1988 Dugdale confirmed this placement but pointed out that the lectotype and two paratypes were not in the Natural History Museum, London.

The dark fuscous forewings are suboblong, moderate, the costa gently arched, the apex obtuse, the termen nearly straight and oblique.

[5] Hudson stated that old specimens can be found in early spring and he hypothesised that this was as a result them hibernating over winter.