This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1930, using specimens collected by C. E. Clarke at Arthur's Pass in January, and named Simaethis fasciata.

[2] The male holotype specimen, collected in the Arthur's Pass, is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Palpi brown closely annulated with white, second segment roundly tufted beneath.

Forewings with costa slightly arched, apex subrectangular, termen almost straight, oblique; bronzy brown; densely irrorated with white except on broad median angled band: fringes bronzy brown, subbasal line and tips white.

Hindwings pale bronzy brown, greyish towards base; an interrupted white fascia from tornus along termen to about 1⁄4, thence diverging into disc and reaching about middle of wing: fringes as in forewings.