Reed Dagger Caterpillar Simyra albovenosa

The caterpillar of the Reed Dagger moth has pale yellow and black longitudinal stripes with orange tufted bars. It increases in orangeness as it gets older, the earlier individual above left (Oare Marshes, Kent) and the later one above right (Rainham Marshes, Essex).

The caterpillars live in reed beds in southeastern England eating mainly reeds. There can be two generations a year, in spring and in late summer. The adults have no orange, yellow or black; they are light beige and look very much like Wainscot family moths.