Forewings lanceolate; whitish ocherous mixed with grey; a large subtriangular blackish blotch at 1⁄3; a round black spot in disk at 2⁄3; apex black anteriorly obscured margined with whitish; fringes ocherous grey.

Hindwings greatly reduced; about a quarter the length of forewings; densely covered with long fine ocherous whitish hair-scales which radiate in all directions.

[2]It has been hypothesised that the hairs on the hind wings of the male may assist in the release of pheromones attracting the females of the species.

[9] This species has been collected on active sand dunes[10] or shingle soils covered with cushion plants.

[7] This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

[11] This species is at risk because of habitat damage caused by commercial shingle removal and stock trampling.