Phytocoris varipes Possibly a New VC 61 Species

Phytocoris varipes at Fordon Banks

 

Whilst weeping Fordon Banks today I netted the Mirid bug Phytocoris varipes, a species which I have recorded further north in the Vale of Pickering the previous year. I didn't think it was particularly rare but looking at records submitted on the NBN Atlas this looks like either the first or second VC61 record, the details are not particularly clear. Although it also highlighted that my previous records from 2022 in the Vale of Pickering were in fact new for VC62 too and the most northerly records in Britain, although I'm not sure how up to date NBN is. Either way these are good records of yet another true bug moving north presumably due to climate change. 

This species is relatively common and widespread south of the Humber where it is described as being fond on rough grassland where it feeds on fruits and flowers of a variety of plants. Although I have only recorded a small number these have all been specifically from warm sites with light soil of either a chalk or sandy substrate, with open unimproved grassland. This habitat selection makes a lot of sense for a warmth loving species moving further north.