Photo © Keith Tailby

Reed Dagger

Simyra albovenosa

Checklist Number
73.035 [B&F: 2290]

Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification

Classification

Family:Noctuidae
Subfamily:Acronictinae
Genus:Simyra
Species:albovenosa
Authority:(Goeze, 1781)

Nationally scarce (Nb) in reed-beds, marshes and fens in parts of south-eastern England. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight there was a colony in Freshwater Marsh on the Island until 1989 and at Titchfield Haven from 2000. It was also reliably reported from Browndown but since then the area has been largely filled in. Wingspan 32-40 mm. The pure white hindwing distinguishes Reed Dagger from a number of superficially similar wainscots. Larva feeds on Common Reed, over-wintering as a pupa.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Freshwater Marshes SSSI (SZ38)1950-Anon-
Freshwater Marshes SSSI (SZ38)1952-Anon-
Freshwater (SZ38)21/07/1989oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)1992-Sam Knill-JonesAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)11/08/2012oneJames HalseyAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Browndown (SZ59)1969-David M Appleton-
Brockenhurst, NF (SU20)12/07/1982oneJohn ChaineyAdult
Brockenhurst (SU20)12/07/1982oneJohn ChaineyAdult
Titchfield Haven NNR (SU50)07/05/2000oneBarry DuffinAdult
Titchfield Haven NNR (SU50)28/05/2003oneBarry DuffinAdult
Portsmouth (SU60)03/08/2004oneIan ThirlwellAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)2006oneAdult
Titchfield Haven NNR (SU50)27/05/2006oneBarry DuffinAdult
Titchfield Haven NNR (SU50)29/05/2006oneBarry DuffinAdult
North Gorley (SU11)29/06/2006onePeter AllenAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)01/08/2007oneMike JeffesAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)25/07/2008oneMike JeffesAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)26/07/2008twoMike JeffesAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)28/07/2008fourLyndon ForsterAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)04/08/2008oneLyndon ForsterAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)07/08/2008oneLyndon ForsterAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)09/08/2008oneLyndon ForsterAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)11/08/2008twoLyndon ForsterAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)08/09/2008oneLyndon ForsterAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)16/08/2009oneBrian HeppenstallAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)19/08/2009twoBrian HeppenstallAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)21/04/2011oneHengistbury Head staffAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)13/07/2011fourHengistbury Head staffAdult
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)30/08/2011oneHengistbury Head staffAdult
Leigh Park (SU70)10/08/2013oneBarry CollinsAdult
Leigh Park (SU70)11/07/2014oneBarry CollinsAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Leckford Estate (SU33)1974-Anon-
Leckford (SU33)1974-D H Sterling-