The Plutellidae are a family of moths commonly known as the diamondback moths, named after the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) of European origin. Some authors consider this family to be a subfamily of the Yponomeutidae, but it is usually considered to be a family in its own right, and have four subfamilies, Ypsolophinae, Plutellinae, Praydinae, and Scythropiinae.

Characteristics

Moths in this family are small to medium in size with wingspans ranging from 7 to 55 mm (0.3 to 2.2 in). The head usually bears smooth scales and the antennae are often thickened in the middle. The wings are elongated and the hindwings often bear long fringes. The forewings often appear to be sickle-shaped because of the arrangement of the fringes. The colouring is generally drab, with various banding and marking. The adults are mostly nocturnal or crepuscular. The larvae feed on the surfaces of leaves which they skeletonise. The host plants vary, but many are in the Brassicaceae family. Some species are economic pests, especially Plutella xylostella and those in the genus Prays.

Genera

Angoonopteryx Moriuti, 1983
Anthonympha Moriuti, 1971
Antispastis Meyrick, 1926
Araeolepia Walsingham, 1881
Arrhetopista Meyrick, 1936
Automachaeris Meyrick, 1907
Bahrlutia Amsel, 1935
Cadmogenes Meyrick, 1923
Calliathla Meyrick, 1931
Charitoleuca Meyrick, 1938
Charixena Meyrick, 1920
Circoxena Meyrick, 1916
Conopotarsa Meyrick, 1913
Diastatica Meyrick, 1938
Diathryptica Meyrick, 1907
Dieda Diakonoff, 1955
Dolichernis Meyrick, 1891
Doxophyrtis Meyrick, 1914
Eidophasia Stephens, 1842
Endozestis Meyrick, 1933
Eudolichura Clarke, 1965
Genostele Walsingham, 1900
Gypsosaris Meyrick, 1909
Helenodes Meyrick, 1913
Hyperxena Meyrick, 1882
Inuliphila Gaedike, 1970
Lepocnemis Meyrick, 1913
Leuroperna Clarke, 1965
Lunakia Klimesch, 1941
Niphodidactis Meyrick, 1938
Orthenches Meyrick, 1885
Orthiostola Meyrick, 1927
Paraxenistis Meyrick, 1919
Phalangitis Meyrick, 1907
Philaustera Meyrick, 1927
Phylacodes Meyrick, 1905
Pliniaca Busck, 1907
Plutella Schrank, 1802
Prays Hübner, 1825
Proditrix Dugdale, 1987
Protosynaema Meyrick, 1885
Psychromnestra Meyrick, 1924
Pyrozela Meyrick, 1906
Rhigognostis Zeller, 1857
Scaeophanes Meyrick, 1932
Spyridarcha Meyrick, 1913
Stachyotis Meyrick, 1905
Tonza Walker, 1864
Tritymba Lower, 1894
Zarcinia Chretien, 1915
Excluded genera and species

The fungus moth Erechthias niphochrysa was also once included here, as a distinct genus Acrocenotes.

The family Acrolepiidae (including the genera Acrolepia, Acrolepiopsis, and Digitivalva) is sometimes included in the Plutellidae.