The larvae feed on a wide range of trees and shrubs, including Dacrydium cupressinum, Prumnopitys taxifolia, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, Libocedrus bidwillii, Cupressus macrocarpa, Leptospermum scoparium, Kunzea ericoides, Ozothamnus leptophyllus, Abies, Picea, Pinus and Thuja species.

Although they are regarded as a pest of exotic forests in New Zealand, the economic damage the larvae cause is minimal and they tend to be controlled only by their natural enemies.

[2] M. K. Kay described the larvae of this species as follows: Mature caterpillars are about 15 mm long and generally brown in colour although some may be quite light.

[8]Butler described the adults of the species as follows: Primaries above purplish brown; discoidai cell white, crossed by a large central subquadrate black spot, terminated by a smaller black spot; a small white spot beyond the cell, and a discal arched white line; apex bronzy brown; fringe brown, whitish towards apex; secondaries coppery brown, two sordid whitish longitudinal and fringe white, the latter brownish at anal angle; body above dark brown, collar and prothorax varied with ochraceous; hind margins of tegulae fringed with whitish; abdomen with whitish hind margins to the segments : primaries below bronzy-brown, pale towards the base, crossed towards apex by a series of ill-defined whitish dots, fringe greyish; secondaries sordid white, shining, clouded (excepting at apex and outer border) with grey; body below pearly whitish; tibiae and tarsi of legs above banded with black.

Finally it is a smaller moth that the dark forms of H. illita and does not have the pale streaks on that species' hind wings.

[8] Depending on the larval host, the adults of this species can show distinct differences in wing pattern as well as in their size.

[8] The larvae feed on a wide range of trees and shrubs, including Dacrydium cupressinum, Prumnopitys taxifolia, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, Libocedrus bidwillii, Cupressus macrocarpa, Leptospermum scoparium, Kunzea ericoides, Ozothamnus leptophyllus, Abies, Picea, Pinus and Thuja species.

[8] It has been hypothesised that these natural parasites as well as wasps introduced as biocontrol agents may have caused the scarcity of this moth in Christchurch.

[9] Although this species is regarded as a pest of exotic forests in New Zealand, because the damage it does is limited, it is normally controlled by its natural enemies rather than by chemicals.

[8] However this species can cause ornamental plants to be defoliated and as a result gardeners may resort to spraying insecticide to kill the feeding larvae.