Eriocottis, the type-genus of Eriocottinae Spuler, 1898, hitherto placed in Incurvarioidea, is redescribed and shown to possess ditryse female genitalia, and is allocated to Tineoidea. Based on two synapomorphies, the Eriocottinae, Deuterotinea Spuler, 1901 (Deuterotineidae), and Compsoctena Zeller, 1852 (Compsoctenidae), are demonstrated to constitute a monophyletic group and are given family rank, Eriocottidae. As this family shares one probable synapomorphy with the Psychidae, a sister-family relationship is suggested. The Eriocottidae are believed to represent one of the earliest evolutionary lines in Tineoidea. A classification of taxa above species level is presented; this divides the Eriocottidae into two subfamilies: Eriocottinae and Compsocteninae. Cronodoxa Meyrick, 1922, is a new synonym of Deuterotinea Spuler, 1901. The Atychidae are assigned to Sesioidea.