# Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides) - Web page: https://www.funwildfacts.com/norden/insect/buff-arches - Published: 2026-05-30 - Last updated: 2026-05-30 ## Overview The Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides) is a beautiful nocturnal moth belonging to the family Drepanidae (hooktip moths). With a wingspan of 28-35 millimeters and distinctive buff to yellowish-brown wings adorned with silvery-grey markings, it is easily recognizable. The wings feature a characteristic hooked tip typical of the family, and are decorated with fine transverse lines and two pale, almost white patches on the forewing that give this moth its unique appearance. This moth species is intimately associated with raspberry and blackberry plants, which serve as the sole food plants for its larvae. The caterpillar is green with darker stripes along the sides and displays a characteristic pink or reddish tint. When fully grown, around 18-20 millimeters long, it spins a cocoon among fallen leaves on the ground where it overwinters as a pupa. The Buff Arches is primarily active during the nights from June to August and is often attracted to light sources, making it popular among moth enthusiasts. The Buff Arches is widespread across much of Europe and eastward through temperate Asia all the way to Japan. In Scandinavia, it occurs in all countries except Iceland, and is particularly common wherever raspberries and blackberries grow naturally or are cultivated. The species occurs in many different environments - from woodland edges and clearings to parks, gardens, and agricultural landscapes. Its close association with raspberry bushes means it is often found in areas where people cultivate berries. Although the Buff Arches is a night-flying moth and therefore less well-known than butterflies, it plays an important role in the ecosystem as a pollinator and as food for birds and bats. The species is considered stable and common throughout its range, and it even benefits from berry cultivation which creates abundant food resources for the larvae. ## Quick facts - Weight: 0.0001–0.00015 g - Length: 1.2–1.5 cm - Wingspan: 2.8–3.5 cm - Lifespan: 0.019–0.082 yrs - Diet: Herbivore - Conservation Status: Least Concern ## Habitat The Buff Arches thrives best in environments where raspberries and blackberries grow abundantly. This includes woodland edges, clearings, roadsides, parks, and gardens. The species is particularly common in agricultural landscapes where berry bushes are planted for harvest, and it can also be found in natural environments such as clear-cuts and other disturbed areas where raspberries quickly become established. The moth prefers sunny or semi-shaded locations where the host plants get good growing conditions. In Scandinavia, the Buff Arches occurs from coastal areas up to mid-altitude mountain regions, as long as raspberries and blackberries are available. It is most common in southern and central parts of the region but can be found as far north as northern Sweden and Finland where raspberry bushes grow. The species is flexible and adapts well to both natural and human-influenced environments, making it a successful species in the modern cultural landscape. - Forest - Woodland - Garden - Farmland - Heathland ## Seasonal Behavior The Buff Arches flies mainly during late summer, from late June to August, with peak activity in July. The adult moths are nocturnal and seek nectar from various flowers during dusk and night. Caterpillars typically hatch in July-August and feed on raspberry leaves during high summer and early autumn. Before winter arrives, the caterpillar spins a cocoon among fallen leaves where it overwinters as a pupa. In spring, when temperatures rise, the adult moth emerges and the cycle begins again. In the southernmost parts of its range, the species can sometimes produce a second generation in late summer, but in Scandinavia it is usually univoltine. ## Breeding - Incubation: 14 days - Offspring: 30–80 ## Behavior & Ecology - Activity Pattern: Nocturnal - Social Behavior: The Buff Arches is a solitary species as an adult moth and meets other individuals only for mating. - Migration: Resident - Population: Common and stable throughout Scandinavia and the rest of Europe ## Did you know? - Buff Arches caterpillars eat exclusively raspberry and blackberry leaves - they refuse to eat anything else! - The moth's wings have a special hooked tip that gives the family Drepanidae its name (from the Greek 'drepane' meaning 'sickle' or 'scythe'). - When threatened, the caterpillar can raise its front body in a characteristic curved posture to scare away predators. - The Buff Arches can produce two generations per year in southern Europe, but in Scandinavia there is usually only one generation. - The pale patches on the wings can shift in color depending on how light hits them - from silvery white to almost golden. - The caterpillar overwinters as a pupa inside a cocoon hidden among fallen leaves, where it can withstand severe frost. - Adult moths live only a few weeks, while the larval stage can last several months. - The Buff Arches is strongly attracted to artificial light and can sometimes be found in large numbers at street lamps and windows on summer nights. ## Taxonomy - Kingdom: Animalia - Class: Insecta - Order: Lepidoptera - Family: Drepanidae - Species: Habrosyne pyritoides ## Image - URL: https://images.djurfakta.com/animals/hallonmatare/1777854128963-1.jpg - License: CC BY-SA 3.0 ## Other languages - sv: https://www.djurfakta.com/norden/insect/hallonmatare - da: https://www.dyrefakta.com/da/norden/insect/hindbaermaler - no: https://www.dyrefakta.com/norden/insect/bringebaermaler