Halticus luteicollis

A very small bug (c.3mm) with very long, pale yellow antennae and hind legs modified for jumping and at least partly pale.  It lives on Bedstraws and various other plant species.  The head is pale, and usually the pronotum has some paler areas. Femora are dark at the base and paler toward the 'knee'. The head is triangular when viewed from the front. 

Orthocephalus are similar, but are larger and have dark femora and antennae.  There are several other Halticus species, not recorded in VC55; these either have a black head or completely black pronotum, and a different head shape viewed from the side; care is needed to separate the genus.  

A top-down and side-on view of the bug, from a specimen or very good field photos.  We recommend that you retain a specimen in case expert verification is needed

Widely scattered (ref: UK checklist 2021; British Bugs website)

Rare.  The 2024 Ketton record is the first record for VC55, suggesting it may be spreading into our area from the south-east.

https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Miridae/Halticus_luteicollis.html