This species was first described by George Hudson in 1939 using a female specimen collected at Lake Harris by F. S. Oliver in January 1918.

[2][3] Due to the single specimen being damaged and lacking antennae, Hudson was uncertain of the generic position of the species.

The forewings have the apex rather obtuse and the termen slightly oblique; there is a deep reddish-brown basal patch followed by a rather indistinct pale transverse line; the subbasal area is orange-brown, followed by a narrow whitish-ochreous band from 1⁄4 of costa to 1⁄3 of dorsum; this band is abruptly bent outwards just below costa and contains a fine blackish line; the median band is dull red, slightly purplish tinged; it contains a small black discal dot and two fine wavy blackish lines enclosing an irregular central area; the outer edge of the median band is finely waved, with slight irregular projections below costa, and a more evident rounded projection in disc; the dorsal third of the median band is much narrower; beyond the median band the ground colour of the wing is pale brownish-ochreous; there are two fine wavy blackish lines immediately outside the median band; a conspicuous yellowish-brown patch on the costa before apex and a blackish-brown patch below this; a very wavy paler subterminal line and a series of minute terminal marks.

The hind-wings are dull whitish-ochreous, with numerous pale brownish-ochreous transverse lines and terminal band, some of the lines become blackish towards dorsum; there is a series of minute terminal dots; the cilia of all the wings are dull brownish-ochreous.

[8] This species has been classified as having the data deficient conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.