It lives in shrubland in inland areas as well as in Southern beech forest at subalpine altitudes.

[1] The male holotype specimen was collected by Troy Watson at Mitchells Cutting in the Upper Clarence Valley in Marlborough.

[2] Hoare states it can be easily distinguished from other species in the genus Austramathes as a result of its "greyish ground-colour, lack of hook-shaped mark from the base of the forewing costa, the large, closely approximated orbicular and reniform stigmata, and the black thorn-like mark from the costa between these.

"[2] This species is endemic to New Zealand and it inhabits the central and eastern parts of the South Island.

[2][3] This species lives in shrubland in inland areas as well as in Southern beech forest at subalpine altitudes.