On Deraeocoris lutescens (Schilling) and Pinalitus atomarius (Meyer-Dur) in Sweden (Heteroptera : Miridae)

Deraeocoris lutescens (Schilling) and Pinalitus atomarius (Meyer-Dur) are r ecently recorded as new to Sweden from the Stockholm area, even though both have previously been mistakingly listed from Sweden in the World catalogue of Miridae by Schuh (1995). The predatory species D. lutescens, first caug ht in 1990, is evidently a newcomer and a southern immigrant to the Swedish fauna, currently occurring commonly on its preferred host trees in city pa rks and suburban areas of Stockholm. P. atomarius, a phytophagous species a ssociated with conifers, was collected, locally in large numbers, on silver fir, Abies alba. The latter, recognized here as the primary host-plant of P. aromarius, is not native to Sweden or neighbouring countries, but plante d for ornamental purposes. Biological and distributional data on the two sp ecies are summarized and notes on their taxonomy and current classification are given. Literature records indicate a recent, northward expansion of so me more southerly species of Heteroptera, mainly several arboreal Miridae, noted also in other parts of western Europe.