Larvae feed on the ground the roots of native grasses and shrubs including Muehlenbeckia axillaris.

This species was first described by Edward Doubleday in the book Travels in New Zealand using a specimen collected by A. Sinclair in Auckland.

[4]Adults can be variable in the depth of ground colour on their wings as well as the extent of the white markings, which in some specimens can become dominant.

[9] This species inhabits open dry herb field areas from the coast up to altitudes of around 1000m.

[8][10][7] The larvae feed on the ground amongst leaflitter on the roots of native grasses and herbaceous plants including Muehlenbeckia axillaris.