The species was first discovered in 2017 by Professor Jon Waters, below the summit of Mt Maungatua, a mountain which overlooks Dunedin Airport.

[1] Researchers from the University of Otago returned to collect more, but only found nymphs, from which they were able to rear a single male to adulthood in the laboratory.

[2][3] The species was formally described by PhD student Brodie Foster in 2019 following DNA analysis.

[4][2] Adult males of the species are 2 cm in length with a dark brown to black body.

[5][4][2] Its ancestors are thought to have been blown into the area around 2 million years ago, and the species since lost its wings in response to the cold and windy environment.