It has been collected in southern beech forests but larvae have been reared on dead kanuka or manuka bushes.

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1926 using a female specimen taken at Flora River, Mount Arthur in January.

Palpi white, basal half of second segment externally black, also an obscure blackish ring near apex, terminal segment with a sprinkling of black scales forming an indefinite ring at tooth.

Forewings elongate, broad, costa well arched, apex obtuse, termen rounded, oblique; white, densely irrorated with pale fuscous; seven blackish spots on costa, first at base, second at 1⁄4, third at 1⁄2, seventh at apex, and remaining three at equal distances between third and seventh; a blackish spot in disc obliquely beyond second costal, and a linear blackish mark on fold beneath this; three blackish spots forming a triangle in disc at about middle, the most apical obliquely beyond third costal; a less clearly defined spot towards apex; a series of blackish spots on termen: fringes white.

[5] Although the species prefers the west side of the Island it has been collected in Nelson, Marlborough, Marlborough Sounds, Westland, Fiordland, North Canterbury, Buller, Otago Lakes, Central Otago, and Southland.

[9] This rearing record has led to the hypothesis that the species is not dependent on beech forest for its survival.