[3] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.

[5] As they mature larvae turn a pinkish colour and can grow to be 3.3 cm in length.

Thorax bright orange-brown, between patagia brownish-yellow; slight anterior and strong double posterior crest.

Fore wings slightly sinuate on costa, apex subacute, termen crenulate, purplish-brown, base suffused with ochreous.

Near centre of wing, above middle, a large bell-shaped ochreous blotch, the base towards costa.

[7] Larvae hide underneath the bark of their host plants during the day which makes them difficult to detect.

[7] Larvae pupate between November and December and the adult moth emerges during the autumn months of mid April to early June.