Although similar in appearance to related species I. huttonii can be distinguished as it has a distinctive M-shaped mark on its forewings.

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 using a female specimen obtained in Otago by Frederick Hutton and named Oecophora huttonii.

[3] Butler originally described the species as follows: Allied to O. picarclla; primaries above greyish-white; a short bifurcate black line lying along the base of costal margin, a, Y-shaped black marking at base of median vein, and beyond it an oblong spot, above the latter a zigzag line running to the costal margin; an irregularly zigzag black line from the centre of costal margin to the first median branch; a ?-shaped black character on the disc, and a series of black spots round the margin of the wings, from the costa just behind the middle to the inner margin near external angle; secondaries shining-grey, with darker subconfluent marginal spots; apical half of fringe sordid white, intersected by a grey line; body white; wings below shining brown, with whitish margins and white fringes; body below white, the venter with black lateral patches; legs white externally with the tarsi black-banded, anterior pair black internally with white joints.

The most obvious visual distinguishing feature of I. huttonii is its forewing discal "M" mark.

[1] Larvae have been recorded feeding on dead branches of Aristotelia serrata and has been reared from Coprosma robusta.