This species was described by Edward Meyrick, using specimens collected at Arthur's Pass at 3000 to 3500 ft in January, and named Simaethis symbolaea.

[4] In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

[2] The male lectotype specimen, collected at Arthur's Pass, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Abdomen dark fuscous, segmental margins sharply silvery- white.

Forewings rather elongate, posteriorly moderately dilated, costa gently arched, apex obtuse, hindmargin somewhat oblique, nearly straight, rounded beneath; dark bronzy-fuscous; markings formed by a fine white irroration; a small basal patch, its outer-edge angulated; two angulated transverse lines near together about 1⁄3; a fine irregularly-indented transverse line beyond middle, space between this and preceding line often partially blackish-fuscous; a cloudy line from 3⁄4 of costa to anal angle, sometimes interrupted above middle; a white irroration towards upper half of hindmargin : cilia white, with thick black basal and dark fuscous median lines, at apex and anal angle and on a small median spot more or less wholly suffused with dark fuscous.