This species has long been confused with others. It is the first cave weta described from New Zealand having been taken from the newly opened tourist cave near Collingwood in 1868. It is found in lowland limestone but not yet in marble caves of northwestern Nelson. The confusion over its identity arose from having another species taken from the same or nearby caves and described several times by three different people. That species, Pachyrhamma edwardsii is far more widespread and common.