The forest ringlet was first described by Richard William Fereday from a specimen collected in the Paparoa Range by a Mr R. Helms of Greymouth.

The forest ringlet caterpillar is nocturnal and feeds on "cutty grass" (Gahnia) and bush snowgrass (Chionochloa) from spring to early autumn.

[6] Dodonidia helmsii was once widespread in New Zealand, including the Wellington and Auckland area, but has become significantly rarer over the last 50 years.

[6] There are two causes: the increasing rarity in lowland areas of the sedges that are its food plant, and the introduction of predatory wasps to New Zealand that prey on its larvae.

[8] This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Relict" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.