Valid Names Results

Kermes echinatus Balachowsky, 1953 (Kermesidae: Kermes)

Nomenclatural History

• Kermes echinatus Balachowsky 1953f: 183-184. Type data: ISRAEL: Nahalal Forest, on Quercus coccifera, by Bytinski-Salz. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Paris: Museum National d'Histoire naturelle, France; accepted valid name Notes: There are 10 syntypes on 10 slides in MNHN (Matile-Ferrero, personal communication, December 2, 1999). Illustr.
• Kermococcus echinatus (Balachowsky, 1953); Borchsenius 1960d: 41. change of combination

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Foes:

Families: 3 | Genera: 5

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 3

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• Hodgso2020: pp.153-154 ( Adult (M) ) [Kermesidae]
• SpodekBe2014: pp.7 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to the adult females of Kermesidae species of Israel]
• SpodekBe2014: pp.7-8 ( Third instar (F) ) [Key to the third-instar females of Kermesidae species of Israel]
• SpodekBe2014: pp.8 ( Second instar (F) ) [Key to the second-instar females of Kermesidae species of Israel]
• SpodekBe2014: pp.8 ( First instar ) [Key to the first-instar nymphs of Kermesidae species of Israel]
• SpodekBe2014: pp.8 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to the post-reproductive females of Kermesidae species of Israel]
• SpodekBe2014: pp.9 ( Second instar (M) ) [Key to the second-instar males of Kermesidae in Israel]
• SpodekBeMe2014: pp.9-Aug ( Adult (M) ) [Key to the adult males of Kermesidae species in Israel]
• Borchs1960d: pp.34 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Kermococcus] Key as: Kermococus echinatus

Remarks

• Systematics: Balachowsky (1953f) states that it is probable that K. echinatus is the species Bodenheimer described as K. greeni. The first-instar of both K. echinatus and K. vermilio are easily distinguishable from other Mediterranean and European Kermes species due to the presence of conical, spine-like marginal setae. The first-instars of other Palaearctic Kermes species possess hair-like, spatulate or club-shaped marginal setae. (Spodek & Ben-Dov, 2012) Balachowsky (1953) observed two main differences between the morphology of the first-instar nymph of K. echinatus and K. vermilio: (i) dorsal simple pores present on K. echinatus but absent on K. vermilio and (ii) in K. echinatus, the conical marginal setae are slightly longer and curved compared to those of K. vermilio. Spodek & Ben-Dov (2012) found that first-instar K. echinatus and K. vermilio had two rows of conical marginal setae but that they differed in size and shape. They also noted a small denticle on each claw of K. echinatus. These were considered to be absent on K. vermilio by Balachowsky (1950) and Pellizzari et al. (2012). The general appearance of young females and fully-grown reproductive females of K. echinatus differs from that of K. vermilio. The young female of K. echinatus is slightly convex, has a brownish-grey dorsum with 4 or 5 black longitudinal and 6-9 black transverse lines composed of dots and lines. The young female of K. vermilio is reddish without transverse and longitudinal lines. The fully-grown reproductive female of K. vermilio has been described as dark red or brown covered with a fine, white or pale grey mealy wax. In contrast, the fully-grown female of K. echinatus is not covered in wax and has transverse and longitudinal black lines on its dorsum. Both species at this stage are highly convex and subspherical. (Spodek & Ben-Dov, 2012) In first-instar K. echinatus and K. hermonensis the marginal spine-like setae are distinctly longer and slightly bent. However, K. echinatus has 62-68 marginal spines whereas K. hermonensis has only 42-48 spines. (Porcelli & Pellizzari, 2014) Kermes echinatus second-instar females mainly differ from those of K. vermilio as follows (characters of K. vermilio in brackets): 1-3-segmented antennae (5-segmented); and with 58-64 marginal spine-like setae (68-74). Both species have frontal lobes and small, tubercle-like legs. (Porcelli & Pellizzari, 2014) K. hermonensis second-instar females differ from those of both K. vermilio and K. echinatus in having 3-segmented legs. K. echinatus has one-segmented antennae and one-segmented legs whereas K. hermonensis has 5- or 6-segmented antennae and 3-segmented legs; and K. echinatus lacks the membranous frontal lobes of K. vermilio. In addition, tubular ducts are present on both the venter and dorsum in K. echinatus and K. hermonensis, whereas they are only found on the venter in K. vermilio; and K. echinatus has two longitudinal rows of conical setae on the dorsum while K. vermilio has one transverse row of setae on dorsum. The third instar females of K. hermonensis differ from those of both K. vermilio and K. echinatus in having 3-segmented legs and 5- or 6-segmented antennae (Spodek & Ben-Dov, 2014).
• Structure: Adult female is subspherical and of average size and is ochre in color (Balachowsky, 1953f). Young, pre-reproductive adult: Oval, soft and slightly convex; dorsum brownish-grey with 4 or 5 black longitudinal and 6-9 black transverse lines formed of dots and lines; 2.5-3.2 mm long and 2-3 mm wide. Fully-mature reproductive female highly convex; dorsum brownish-grey with black, longitudinal and transverse lines; body tapering posteriorly. Post-reproductive female oval and moderately convex, 2.9-4.4 mm long, 2.7-5.1 mm wide and 3.2-4.8 mm high; dorsum sclerotized; red with 6-9 black, transverse black lines represented as reticulated folds. (Spodek & Ben-Dov, 2012) First-instar nymph. General appearance. Dorsum and venter red, body oval and tapering posteriorly, 0.37-0.44 mm long and 0.14-0.2 mm wide. Each with a fringe of curly white wax on margins once first-instars settle on branch for feeding (Spodek & Ben-Dov, 2012) Oval, and almost flat, orange-red. (Porcelli & Pellizzari, 2014) Third-instar nymph body rounded, convex, bright yellow just after moult, otherwise orange-brown, with numerous protruding white waxy tufts on dorsum. (Porcelli & Pellizzari, 2014) Third-instar female K. echinatus differ from those of K. vermilio mostly as follows (characters of K. vermilio in brackets): monomerous antennae (2- or 3-segmented); and with about 50-60 marginal spine-like setae (132-222). (Porcelli & Pellizzari, 2014)
• Biology: Kermes echinatus is a univoltine, oviparous and biparental species. It overwinters as 1st instar nymphs, settling on the branches of the trees. The second instar nymphs appear by the middle of April, followed by 3rd instar nymphs until the end of May. The male larvae and pupae were recorded from the end of April to the end of May. Mature females, pre-ovipositing and ovipositing adults, were recorded during May and June. The newly hatched crawlers appeared by the end of June, which remained at this stage, settled on branches during the rest of summer and winter periods till next April. (Stathas, et al., 2018)
• General Remarks: Original description and illustration by Balachowsky (1953f). Detailed redescription, illustration and photographs of adult females and first-instar nymph in Spodek & Ben-Dov, 2012) Detailed description, illustrations and photographs of first, second and third instar nymphs in Porcelli & Pellizzari (2014), Detailed descripton, illustrations and photographs of first, second, third instar and adult females as well as second instar, prepupa, pupa and adult males in Spodek & Ben-Dov (2014),

Illustrations

Citations