This species was first described in Richard Taylor's book Te Ika a Maui: or, New Zealand and its inhabitants in 1855.

[2][3] The species name, Dianthoecia pictula, was listed as a caption on the plate that illustrated the moth.

Adam White was regarded as the artist of that plate and, as a result, the species authorship has been attributed to him.

[5][6] In 1898 and in 1928 George Vernon Hudson discussed and illustrated this moth under the name Melanchra rhodopleura.

[8]The adult moths lack the prominent white reniform markings of the South Island species M.

[9] M. pictula is classified as being "At Risk" and "Declining" by the Department of Conservation threat classification system.