This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1888 as Larentia mnesichola using material collected by Meyrick at Mount Arthur. Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in 1898 as Xanthorhoe mnesichola. He also discussed and illustrated this moth under this same name in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. In 1971 John S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Asaphodes. This placement was confirmed by Dugdale in 1988. The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.
