It was first described by William Warren in 1896 using specimens collected by George Hudson in Wellington and named Xanthorhoe farinata.

[3][1] In 1912 Louis Beethoven Prout placed this species in the genus Larentia and affirmed this placement again in 1939.

[6] George Hudson followed this placement when he discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

[8][1] Dugdale agreed with this placement in his 1988 publication Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa.

Head, thorax, and abdomen all grey; forelegs blackish, with white joints.