It is the smallest micropterigid in New Zealand and the shiny white markings on the forewing of this species display variation.

Adults are on the wing from September to March and the species has been witnessed visiting the flowers of Nīkau and Cordyline pumilio in large numbers.

Larvae have been sieved from rotten wood on the floor of a mixed podocarp/broadleaf forest or extracted from moss or from bryophytes.

[4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under this name in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

Forewings oblong, costa abruptly bent near base, thence gently arched, apex acute, hindmargin straight, very oblique; neuration quite as in P. chalcophanes; dark fuscous purple, with bronzy reflections; extreme base whitish-yellowish; a moderately broad straight whitish-yellowish fascia before middle, generally narrowest above; a whitish-yellowish dot or small spot on costa about 3⁄4, variable in size, sometimes absent : cilia dark grey, with a rather large pale whitish-yellowish apical spot.

[1] Z. zonodoxa is a moth that is active during the day and have been seen visiting the flowers of Nīkau and Cordyline pumilio in large numbers.