Species may leave their frass scattered about, deposited neatly along leaf veins or gathered at the feeding area, knit into a pile with silk threads, or spun into the cocoon.

[2] Many feed on plants of the legume family, Fabaceae, and five genera are limited to them.

[2] Most larvae are leaf miners, which feed on leaves and produce distorting tissue damage.

[2] Familiar pests in the subfamily include Cameraria ohridella, which feeds on horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), Phyllonorycter blancardella, which feeds on apples (Malus spp.

[2] Phyllonorycter contains many species of unclear phylogenetic origins and uncertain taxonomic classification.