The larvae of this species pupates in a loose cocoon on the ground and adult moths emerge in September.

Although adults tend to be a deep emerald green colour this species is again variable and there is also an orange-yellow variety as well as intermediate forms.

[4] In 1875 Cajetan von Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer, also thinking they were describing a new species, named this moth Cidaria aquossata.

[5] In 1888 Edward Meyrick placed this species in the genus Pasiphila and synonymised the names Eupithecia cidariaria and Cidaria aquosata.

[9] In 1988 John S. Dugdale discussed this species under the name Pasiphila muscosata and in 2010 Robert Hoare in the New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity followed this placement.

[3]This species is variable in appearance with Hudson describing a variety of this moth which has a ground colour of orange-yellow.

[8] Hudson hypothesised that the appearance of the larvae imitates the dried flowers of its host plants.

[1][8] From late December to mid January adults lay their oval, flattened eggs, usually singly, on the leaves of their host species.

[8] They have been observed resting during the day on tree trunks where their appearance resembles moss making the species extremely difficult to find.