Batrachedridae

Butterflies are small, dull-colored, have an extremely characteristic resting position: the highly elevated front end of the body and the legs pointing backward give them a “frog pose” (where the Latin name comes from). Wingspan 9–20 mm. Labial palps rather long, bent up. The antennae are filiform, almost reaching the top of the front wing.

The front wings are very narrow, linear. The pattern is usually limited to 2 dark points. Hind wings very narrow, linear, with 5-7 veins. The length of their fringe is 8-10 times the width of the wing.

Caterpillars are phytophages , mainly on the generative parts of woody plants from the subclasses Hamamelididae , Dilleniidae and Rosidae , as well as Arecidae . Few species are associated with coniferous and grassy monocotyledons of the subclass Liliidae . Certain species secondarily switched to predation on coccids, or are found as commensals in nests of spiders and ants . Narrow oligophages prevail . Caterpillars are very mobile and build tubular silken passages on the surface and in the cavities of the food substrate. Some American species can make covers. In the tropics, they harm coconut and date palms .

Spread the whole world. In the world fauna, 6 genera and about 150 species are known, mainly from tropical and subtropical regions. There are 10 species in the Palearctic .

• JC Koster, S. Yu. Sinev: Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae, Agonoxenidae, Cosmopterigidae, Chrysopeleiidae . In: P. Huemer, O. Karsholt, L. Lyneborg (Hrsg.): Microlepidoptera of Europe . 1. Auflage. Band 5, Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, ISBN 87-88757-66-8 , S. 51.