[4][2] Arthur Gardiner Butler, thinking he was describing a new species, named it Scoparia conifera in 1879.

[6][7] George Hudson described and illustrated the species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

The hind-wings are pale och eous, glossy, with a grey discal spot and terminal shading.

[9] S. ustimacula can be distinguished by the pair of large, dark brown, white boarded, forewing markings.

[9][11] Although little is known of the life history of this moth, the larvae of S. ustimacula feed on Hydrocotyle species.