This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1931[1] using seven specimens collected by George Hudson in Wellington during the months of December and January.

[2] Hudson discussed and illustrated the species in his 1928 work The butterflies and moths of New Zealand under the name Izatha balanophora[3] but later corrected his taxonomic error in 1939.

[5] The appearance of the adult moths of this species is variable and as a result it was originally confused with Izatha balanophora.

[5] However it can be distinguished from this species as I. mesoschista has a bold black line in the middle of the disk on its forewings.

[7] However a male I. mesoschista can be distinguished from both I. haumu and I. epiphanes by the species characteristic three pronged tip of its genitalia.