Plutellidae

Guenée, 1845

The Plutellidae are a family of moths belonging to the superfamily Yponomeutoidea .
Some authors consider this family to be a subfamily of the Yponomeutidae, but it is usually considered a family in its own right and has three subfamilies, Plutellinae, Praydinae and Scythropiinae but the systematics is still controversial. *
The moths of this family are cosmopolitan of small to medium size with a wingspan ranging from 7 to 55 mm and the nymphosis takes place in cocoons.

The head of these moths usually bears smooth scales, and the antennae are often thickened in the center. The front wings are elongated and the hind wings often carry long fringes. The colouration is not vivacious usually brown or gray with patterns and bands.
Adults are mostly nocturnal or crepuscular. The larvae feed on the leaf surfaces which skeletonize. Host plants vary, but many belong to the Brassicaceae family. Some species are cheap parasites, especially Plutella xylostella and those of the genus Prays . *

* Capinera, John L. (2008). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1206. ISBN 978-1-4020-6242-1.