This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and the upper parts of the South Island.

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1913 using specimens collected by George Hudson at Ohakune and named Xanthorhoe cymozeucta.

[3][4] Hudson used this same name when he discussed and illustrated the species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

Forewings triangular, costa sinuate, apex obtuse, termen rather obliquely rounded, waved, subconcave on upper half; greyish-ochreous, irregularly sprinkled with fuscous and dark fuscous, towards costa and termen whitishochreous; first two fasciae each formed of two or three striae of blackish irroration; third and fourth fasciae of two and three blackish striae respectively, more or less suffused with fuscous, third preceded and fourth followed by a white stria, fourth irregular and forming an obtuse obliquely bidentate projection in middle; a black transverse-linear discal mark between these; a waved white subterminal stria edged anteriorly with more or less darkfuscous suffusion, space between this and fourth fascia more or less suffused with dull brown-reddish; a spot of dark-fuscous suffusion before apex; an interrupted blackish terminal line: cilia whitish, barred with dark fuscous.

Hindwings somewhat elongate, termen rounded, somewhat waved; greywhitish; median band indicated by traces of grey striae; a blackish linear discal dot: cilia whitish, with a series of small dark-grey spots.