[1] It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the South Island, apart from in the Nelson district with the exception of the St Arnaud Range where it is present.

P. cucullina lives in shrubland at subalpine and alpine zones but can occur at sea-level in the more southern regions.

[4] Hudson again discussed this species in 1928 but under the name Aletia cucullina following Meyrick's placement.

[6] In 2017 Robert Hoare undertook a review of New Zealand Noctuinae and placed this species in the genus Physetica.

[1] The male holotype specimen was collected by H. G. Knaggs, likely at Rakaia in Canterbury and is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Superior cinereous, with intensely black terminal clots; the costa also marked with black dots, which indicate the origin of the ordinary lines, which are little visible; the half-line is the most apparent, formed of two arcs, one placed above the other; no basal line; subterminal indicated by a series of wedge-shaped blackish spots; and the central shade by a black dot on the inner margin; the two ordinary spots are visible, and of the normal form : inferior smoky-grey, without markings, and with a white fringe; their under-side whitish, with a large black cellular lunule, and a strongly defined border, which resembles that of the species of Anarta.

[7][8] This species is found throughout the South Island apart from in the Nelson district with the exception of the St Arnaud Range where it is present.

[1] P. cucullina lives in shrubland at subalpine and alpine zones but can occur at sea-level in the more southern regions.