This treatment covers all species of Scythrididae known from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, Holland and Poland, and also most of the species from Germany, Belgium, Czechoslovakia and from western Russia north of 50° latitude. All 35 species are illustrated in full colour and supplementary illustrations of some infrasubspecific forms are provided; male and female genitalia are also figured. The wing venation of several species is shown. All species are keyed and redescribed. A synopsis of the morphology, immature stages and bionomics of the family Scythrididae are provided. The zoogeography, systematics and classification are discussed.