They belong to the family Ptiliidae which is referred to as feather-winged beetles as the hindwings are narrow and feather-like.

Like most of the rest of the family, Pteryx are very small and live in rotting vegetative matter.

They are polymorphic, in that they frequently occur in two forms, a normal variety, and a neonate form that has only vestigial wings, pale body pigmentation, and no pigmentation in their smaller eyes.

[2][3][4] Pteryx are found in Eurasia and as far south as the Canary Islands.

[5] Pteryx are found in North America from Canada, to as far south as Georgia.