An increasing number of wildlife enthusiasts are becoming interested in moths, and several organise moth-trapping sessions at Paxton Pits during the summer under the auspices of the British Entomological and Natural History Society. If you'd like to join them, please contact Faith Darlow (01480 214026). Check our Events diary for details of public events during the summer.

530 different species have been recorded at the Pits. These include a few - such as the rose leaf miner (1987), ghost moth (1988), large clover case-bearer (1990), spindle ermine (1995), hawthorn moth (1997), timothy tortrix (2002), least carpet (2005), ruddy carpet (2006) and August thorn (2007) - that have only been seen once. The largest moths to occur are the hawkmoths, and we’ve recorded eight species so far: the day-flying migrant hummingbird hawk-moth, and the nocturnal privet, pine, lime, eyed, poplar, elephant and small elephant hawk-moths.

If you have Microsoft Excel, download the full list (to July 2006) or view the checklist in PDF format (to September 2007).