Cosmopterigidae, Heinemann & Wocke, 1876

Pohl, Greg, Anweiler, Gary, Schmidt, Christian & Kondla, Norbert, 2010, An annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta, Canada, ZooKeys 38 (38), pp. 1-549 : 78

31. Cosmopterigidae – cosmet moths

Small (10–18 mm wingspan) moths, most with moderately narrow lanceolate wings. Some species have metallic markings on the forewings. Adults of most species have been collected at lights, but a few are diurnal or crepuscular. Larvae of most species are leafminers, flower bud feeders or seed feeders, or miners and gall formers on stems and roots. A few species are scavengers or predators on scale insects.

The family Cosmopterigidae comprises over 1200 described species from all parts of the world. This family is particularly diverse in Hawaii. In continental North America, 183 species are known. Five species are reported from AB, and a few others may occur here as well. Hodges (1978) revised the family for North America ; three additional species have been recognized or reported since then.