It is regarded as endemic to the Kaitorete Spit area although it had been recorded in the Manorburn Ecological District.

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1931 using specimens collected by Stewart Lindsay at Birding's Flat in December.

[2][3] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1939 publication A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

Hindwings 4 or 5 coincident; bronze-grey-whitish, apex greyer; in ♀︎ a thick streak of black suffusion along dorsum from near base to near middle; cilia light ochreous-grey.

[5][1] Other than the type locality of Birdings Flat at Kaitorete Spit,[2] this species was recorded by Brian Patrick at Long Valley Ridge in the Manorburn Ecological District, Central Otago in February.