This species can be found on both the North and South Islands in open native forest and scrub at altitudes from sea level up to 1370 m. The larvae feed on Podocarpus laetus, P. totara, P. nivalis, and Phyllocladus alpinus.

The larvae create a shelter by loosely spinning together the leaves of its host plant and can be found feeding in groups.

[2] The female lectotype, collected in Dunedin in August, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

[11] Meyrick described the larvae of the species as follows: Larva 16-legged, moderate, cylindrical, rather tapering at both ends; dull light greenish - ochreous; dorsal narrow, ochreous-whitish, bordered on each side by a slender dull reddish-fuscous streak, coalescing towards extremities; head brownish-ochreous[5]Meyrick described the adults of the species as follows: Male, female.

Forewings elongate, narrow, costa arched, apex acute, hind-margin very obliquely sinuate; brownish-ochreous, with purple or coppery reflections, sometimes mixed with grey-whitish; an irregular irroration of small dark fuscous spots; markings suffused, deep bronzy or violet-fuscous, very variable; normally a fascia-like rather oblique streak from costa at 1⁄4, usually abbreviated, but sometimes reaching inner margin, an irregular median fascia parallel to this, connected by a bar with costa at 3⁄4, and a narrow fascia from costa before apex to anal angle, but these are sometimes incomplete or partially suffused; in one specimen, traces of a longitudinal white median streak: cilia brownish-ochreous, with a dark fuscous spot at apex.

[1][2] The adult moths have been collected at altitudes from sea level up to 1370 m.[2] The larvae feed from a structure they create by loosely spinning together the leaves of its host plant.

[9] Hudson was of the opinion that this species had two broods during each year with adults being on the wing more commonly in September and again in March.