[1] I. cana was first described by George Howes in 1914 from a single male specimen collected in the Garvie Mountains, near Lake Wakatipu in Otago.

[2] This species was illustrated and discussed in George Hudson's 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.

Orbicular faintly shown in light grey, and separated from reniform by a distinct dark-grey patch.

A jagged light-grey line at 3⁄4, bending towards termen until centre of wing, then inwards before reaching dorsum.

Underside grey with a faint ochreous tinge and a well-defined irregular dark-grey line at about 3⁄4 across both wings.[2]I.

[1] Unlike I. eris, I. cana does not appear to be present in the north-west of the South Island.