Valid Names Results

Allokermes kingii (Cockerell, 1898) (Kermesidae: Allokermes)

Nomenclatural History

• Kermes kingii Cockerell 1898q: 330. Type data: UNITED STATES: Massachusetts, Lawrence, on Quercus borealis, 28/07/1898, by G.B. King. Syntypes, female, Type depository: New York: American Museum of Natural History, Department of Entomology Collection, New York, USA; accepted valid name Notes: Cockerell (1898q) makes no mention of types in his original description, but Bullington & Kosztarab state they have examined a paratype. The USNM has a box of dry material whose label matches that of the type locality and date, but it is empty.
• Kermes kingi Cockerell, 1898; Cockerell 1900c: 44. misspelling of species epithet
• Talla kingi (Cockerell, 1898); Lindinger 1933a: 143. change of combination and misspelling of species epithet
• Allokermes kingi (Lindinger, 1933); Bullington & Kosztarab 1985: 58-63. change of combination and misspelling of species epithet Illustr.

Common Names

• northern red-oak kermes BullinKo1985
• Escama del roble de King Kondo2022b
• escama kermes del encino rojo norteño Kondo2022b

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 2

Foes:

Families: 4 | Genera: 4

Associates:

Families: 2 | Genera: 2

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• Koszta1996: pp.269 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Allokermes]
• BullinKo1985: pp.29 ( Adult (F) ) [Adult females of Allokermes]
• Britto1923: pp.350 ( Adult (F) ) [Kermes species] Key as: Kermes kingii
• MacGil1921: pp.197 ( Adult (F) ) [Kermes species] Key as: Kermes kingii
• DietzMo1916a: pp.233 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Kermes] Key as: Kermes kingii
• Sander1904a: pp.34 ( Adult (F) ) [Ohio Kermes]
• Cocker1900c: pp.44 ( Adult (F) ) [North American species of Kermes] Key as: Kermes kingi

Remarks

• Systematics: Allokermes kingii is distinguishable by the pre-anal row of quinquelocular disc pores not extending medially onto median lobe of false venter, also with pores extending dorsally to above anal lobes, encircling them; lateral row of quinquelocular disc pores present, extending dorsally into sparsely distributed quinquelocular disc pores on mid-dorsum; and spinescent 8-shaped pores with small teeth that are subequal to length of pits (Bullington & Kosztarab, 1985).
• Structure: Adult female very convex, light ochreous in color and marbled with a darker reddish tint (Cockerell, 1898q). Discussion of eggs and wax secretion by Hamon et al. (1975).
• Biology: Allokermes kingii has one generation per year with eggs being laid in July and hatched in September. First instars were recorded as having overwintered and molted in April and matured in June (Kosztarab 1996). McAtee (1926) states that this scale is fed upon by the Yellow Throated Vireo in New York. A. kingii is bivoltine in Florida. First generation crawlers emerge in late May. After hatching, they remain beneath the parental cover until environmental condigions favor dispersal. Second instar females migrate and secrete a hard, waxy covering. Second instar males migrate down the tree stems and cover themselves with a white, felt-like waxy test. Second instar females molt to a third instar which lasts two to four days. Third instar females become adults from late August to mid-December. Eggs are laid from early September to mid=December. Each female can lay an average of 3,000 eggs. Second generation crawlers begin emerging in mid-September. They overwinter as first and second instars and by late April become mature adults. (Turner & Buss, 2010)
• Economic Importance: Feeding results in branch dieback, reduced tree growth rates, and sooty mold, which grows on the honeydew secreted by the scales, Mechanical control including pruning, removing of the scales, and destroying infested plant material. Several natural enemies attack A. kingii. A detailed discussion of chemical control can be found in Turner, 2004.
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustration by Bullington & Kosztarab (1985). Photograph in Kondo (2022b).

Illustrations

Citations