The insects at Paxton Pits are often overlooked, but there are plenty there. Keep your eyes open!

Butterflies
Twenty-seven species of butterfly have been recorded around Paxton Pits. Two species to particularly look out for are marbled white (annual since 1998) and purple hairstreak (best seen over the oak trees along the Haul Road). Volunteers survey the butterflies at Paxton Pits every week through the spring and summer, contributing to the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Click here to find out more about their status and likely flight months at Paxton.

Dragonflies
The gravel pits have significantly increased the habitat for dragonflies and damselflies - some species are found close to the river, but many can be seen around the edges of the pits. The Meadow Trail and the Ouse Valley Way are the best places to see them, from May to August. 21 species occur regularly, with two others - variable damselfly and red-veined darter - also recorded. Click here to find out more about their status and likely flight months at Paxton.

Moths
An increasing number of wildlife enthusiasts are becoming interested in moths, and several organise moth-trapping sessions at Paxton Pits during the summer, some of which are open to the public. 530 species have been recorded at the Pits. Click here to visit the moths page, with a downloadable list.

Crickets and grasshoppers
In 2005, volunteers found a short-winged conehead singing strongly from the waterside vegetation in the Meadow, the first record for the Pits and coming hot on the heels of the long-winged coneheads first seen here in 2003. Roesel's, dark and speckled bush-crickets are also in the Meadow, as is lesser marsh grasshopper.

Until about 1970, long-winged conehead was restricted to the south coast from Dorset to Sussex but has since spread dramatically north and is now widespread in rough grassland, especially roadside verges in Huntingdonshire, whereas short-winged conehead is associated with wet meadows and fens. It’s encouraging to find both species of conehead in close proximity in two different habitat types, each the ‘normal’ habitat type for one species. With climate change, you can no longer trust the books!

Spiders
The Little Paxton spider list stands at 148 species, though there are doubtless more to be found, since so few people are looking: 23 new records for Huntingdonshire have been found during the last three years. The last published list for Huntingdonshire totalled 250 species (up to 1998). For comparison, Bedfordshire and Leicestershire have both been very well recorded and have 323 and 326 species respectively, which is just over 50% of the British spider fauna (ca 640 species). Among the finds are species never previously been recorded in Huntingdonshire.

Zilla diodia, a small orb weaver spider, in ivy on willow trees by the kissing gate to the southeast of the Pit and a second site between Cloudy Pit and the river. It is classed as a ‘Notable B’ species, recorded in fewer than 100 ten kilometre squares in the UK. They usually occur south of the Thames and so are scarce in Huntingdonshire.

Euophrys aequipes, a small, attractively marked jumping spider, rather uncommon nationally, found mainly in dry habitats in the south; from the gravel area between Cloudy Pit and the river.

Panamomops sulcifrons, a money-spider with a pair of horns on the carapace of the male, local and usually associated with dry habitats; in village.

Clubiona neglecta, a ground-dwelling hunting spider, not uncommon; from the gravel area between Cloudy Pit and the river.

Walckenaeria antica, a small money-spider, widespread and fairly common nationally; from the east side of Rudd Pit.

Theridion hemerobium, a female and four males of this member of the Black Widow family, in low vegetation at the west side of the Sailing Lake. Prior to 1996, the only British records of this species were from Sussex, but since then individuals have been found in Leicestershire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire, all next to water. All the previous records total 13 females and 3 males, so this find more than doubles the number of males recorded in the UK. Certainly the rarest spider found at Paxton so far.

Porrhomma oblitum, from damp litter in shade at the west side of the small pool west of the Sailing Lake (between the track up to the water ski pit and the Little Chef). This is a Nationally Notable B money spider (recorded in fewer than 100 ten kilometre squares in the UK), though not a new county record as it is also known from Woodwalton Fen. Also found in wet willow litter to the east of Cloudy Pit.

Arctosa leopardus, a local wetland wolf-spider on gravel at the water’s edge by pools between Cloudy Pit and the river. This species, the 11th type of wolf spider from Paxton, is another new Huntingdonshire record. Although showing no particular association with the coast, there appear to are few records from landlocked counties. It is unknown in Bedfordshire, but has been recorded from Wicken Fen.

Larinioides patagiatus, a widespread but very local orb weaver around Rudd Pit.

Philodromus albidus (running crab spider), both male and female of this Nationally Notable B spider, recorded in fewer than 100 ten kilometre squares in the UK.

Lepthyphantes insignis, a money spider which has been recorded in fewer than 100 ten kilometre squares in the UK, though it may be commoner than is realised as they live underground and disperse above ground at night (they have even been recorded from mole nests!).

Microctenonyx subitaneus, a local money spider often associated with dry straw, in a bag of dried leaves in a garden on the edge of the Pits complex.

Lophomma punctatum, a wetland money spider, from flood refuse by the flooded river Ouse to the south of Cloudy Pit.