So far our group has recorded over 290 species at Banstead Woods and Canons Farm. This is included in the 2022 to 2025 Bird and other wildlife report which can be downloaded from the reports page.
Many unusual insects occur at both Canons Farm and Banstead Woods. These include:
Canons Farm:
A full list of insects recorded by our group at Canons Farm can be downloaded from the Wildlife page.
Uncommon butterflies include: Brown Hairstreak, Small Tortoiseshell, Large Tortoiseshell (once), Dark Green Fritillary (once in 2025), Silver washed Fritillary, Purple Emperor
Ichneumon species: Ctenichneumon panzeri (only 17 previous UK records),
The uncommon Jewel Wasp Pseudospinolia neglecta
Scarce Minotaur beetle (a dung beetle) was found at Canons Farm close to Ruffetts Wood
Hoverfly: Chrysotoxum Verralli (an uncommon species)
Banstead Woods:
Results of a survey carried out for the Woodchip Conservation Volunteers can be downloaded from http://www.thewoodchips.org/uploads/1/2/4/1/124156754/chipstead_downs_and_banstead_woods_survey_2020.pages
Butterflies: 38 species have been recorded including many scarce species including: Brown Hairstreak, White Letter Hairstreak, Green Hairstreak, Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Silver Spotted Skipper, Dingy Skipper and Grizzled Skipper.
Examples of uncommon insects found at Banstead Woods include:
Uncommon hoverfly Microdon devius at Fames Rough Field
The scarce bee fly Villa singulata
Honeysuckle sawfly. Albia aenea - Only 25 UK records. Recorded by Woodchip Conservation Volunteers
Rufous Grasshopper, Gomphocerippus rufus - an uncommon species of chalk grassland
Stag beetle
Lixus iridis - an uncommon species of weevil
Ctenichneumon panzeri
Jewel Wasp Pseudospinolia neglecta
