It appears to be more common in the North Island than the South Island, and lives in open native shrublands, peatlands, Northland gumland, inland volcanic dunes, and Dracophyllum-dominated areas at altitudes that range from sea level to the alpine zone, up to at least 1600 m. Larvae of this species have been successfully reared on Leucopogon fasciculatus and Leptecophylla juniperina.

[3] In 1924 Edward Meyrick, thinking he was describing a new species, named this moth Melanchra distracta.

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

[1] While reviewing this species Hoare designated a lectotype specimen, held at the Natural History Museum, London.

[6] Hoare describes the larva of this species as follows: dull green with brown and grey dorsal markings.

A jagged subbasal line, strongly marked on submedian fold, where it turns abruptly towards base.

However although these examples have less prominently underlined reniform stigma, Hoare considered them falling within the same species as there were no other distinguishing characteristics that might support separating them off.

[1] This species lives in open native shrublands, peatlands, Northland gumland, inland volcanic dunes, and Dracophyllum-dominated areas at altitudes that range from sea level to the alpine zone, up to at least 1600 m.[1] This species appears to be more common in the North Island than the South Island.