[4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under this name in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.

[2] John S. Dugdale noted that the name despecta was misapplied by L. J. Dumbleton to this species in his 1966 publication Genitalia, classification and zoogeography of the New Zealand Hepialidae (Lepidoptera).

[7] W. copularis has variable wing patternation and is visually very similar to four other species within the genus Wiseana.

[8][9] It is possible to distinguish the male of W. copularis by the long rectangular antennal pectinations of the adult moth.

[11] The moth then enters the pupa stage of their life cycle which lasts approximately a month.

[14] Research has been undertaken on the possibility of exploiting this susceptibility to ensure biological control of larvae inhabiting farmland pasture.

[8] Host species for the moth larvae include Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens.

[8][11] Farmers use an insect growth regulator such as Diflubenzuron where they believe moth larvae infestation may cause significant damage to their pasture.