The glossy blueish grey colouration of the adults of this species helps camouflage them against the rocks in their preferred habitat.

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1921 using a specimen collected by E. S. Gourlay at Arthur's Pass and named Xanthorhoe clandestina.

[3][2] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand under the same name.

Antennae dark grey, pectinations 5 but appearing shorter owing to being basally appressed to the shaft.

[3]The glossy blueish grey colouration of the adults of this species helps camouflage them against rocks.

[8] H. clandestina prefers stony riverbed habitat such as at the Waimakariri River flood plain.