Small butterflies with a wingspan of 7-30 mm. They are distinguished by characteristic rosettes of long stiff bristles on the tops of the legs and segments of the tarsi of the hind legs and a characteristic resting position in which the hind legs of most species are raised almost perpendicular to the surface of the substrate on which the butterfly sits. The head is covered with tight-fitting scales, sometimes with a more or less pronounced frontal roller. Labial palps long, thin, crescent-shaped upward. Antennae sometimes with a crest of protruding scales (subfamily Atkinsoniinae). In males, tendrils often have long rare cilia (subfamily Stathmopodinae). Fore wings narrow-lanceolate or linear, relatively brightly colored. Hind wings narrower than anterior, with partially reduced venation . Abdominal tergites have transverse rows of small spines on their posterior margin.
Caterpillars are characterized by laying silken tubular passages on the surface or inside their food substrate. Caterpillars feed on woody forms of flowering plants from the subclasses Hamamelididae , Dilleniidae , Rosidae and Arecidae - mainly flowers, seeds, and pulp of fruits. Caterpillars are sometimes found in sporangia of ferns or on plant debris. Also, cases of predation of caterpillars in colonies of worms and scale insects were noted. Some species are known as pests of fruits of cultivated plants: figs , Japanese persimmons , walnuts , carob and coffee tree .
The distribution of the family is predominantly tropical; in temperate latitudes they are represented by a small number of species. There are 16 genera and about 300 species in the world fauna, in Russia there are 7 genera and 12 species.
