This species has been observed in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and in the Southern Alps.

This species was described by Alfred Philpott in 1930 using material he collected in February at Governors Bush, Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and originally named Carposina canescens.

[3][2] George Hudson discussed this species under that name in his 1939 book A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

Forewings, costa moderately arched, apex rounded, termen straight, oblique; grey, faintly greenish tinged; a black basal area on costa reaching half across wing and indicated below middle by a few raised black scales; 5 or 6 black spots on costa between 1⁄3 and apex; an oblique black bar of raised scales beneath 1st costal spot, outwardly margined with ochreous and white; 3 or 4 ring-like spots and some scattered blackish and ochreous scales in disc; an obscure interrupted blackish subterminal fascia; termen thickly sprinkled with blackish scales: fringes fuscous-grey sprinkled with white.

[6][1] Other than the type locality, this species has been found in the Southern Alps at the junction of the Bealey and Waimakariri Rivers.