It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1880.

It is found in New Zealand[2] and most of Australia, including Tasmania.

The caterpillars of this species live underwater.

The larvae feed on Potamogeton crispus and Zostera species.

[3] They also feed on other alien macrophytes such as Hydrilla verticillata, Lagarosiphon major, and Ceratophyllum demersum.