Though they belong to the Apoditrysia like the larger moths and the butterflies, unlike these they are tiny and were formerly included among the assemblage called "microlepidoptera".

The forewings of plume moths usually consist of two curved spars with more or less bedraggled bristles trailing behind.

This resembles the closely related Alucitidae (many-plumed moths) at first glance, but the latter have a greater number of symmetrical plumes.

Often they resemble a piece of dried grass, and may pass unnoticed by potential predators even when resting in exposed situations in daylight.

Other plume moths have been used as biological control agents against invasive plant species – Lantanophaga pusillidactyla against West Indian lantana (Lantana camara), Oidaematophorus beneficus against mistflower (Ageratina riparia), Hellinsia balanotes against groundsel bush (Baccharis halimifolia),[3] and Wheeleria spilodactylus against horehound (Marrubium vulgare).