Valid Names Results

Allokermes rattani (Ehrhorn, 1906) (Kermesidae: Allokermes)

Nomenclatural History

• Kermes rattani Ehrhorn 1906: 329. Type data: UNITED STATES: California, Mountain View, Stevens Creek Canyon, on Quercus chrysolepis. Syntypes, female and first instar, Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name Notes: Two slides of type material including a larva in USNM, as well as two slides from the Ehrhorn Collection, not labeled as types, but containing the same locality information and dates.
• Kermes occidentalis King 1913a: 206. Type data: UNITED STATES: California, on Quercus sp., by E.M. Ehrhorn. Unknown type status, female, junior synonym (discovered by Ferris1955a, 201). Notes: We have been unable to locate type material of this species. Illustr.
• Kermes mirabilis King 1914e: 133. Type data: UNITED STATES: California, Mountain View, on Quercus sp., by E.M. Ehrhorn, 1901. Unknown type status, female, junior synonym (discovered by Ferris1920b, 28). Notes: We have been unable to locate type material of this species. Illustr.
• Talla mirabilis (King, 1914); Lindinger 1933a: 143. change of combination
• Talla occidentalis (King, 1913); Lindinger 1933a: 143. change of combination
• Talla rattani (Ehrhorn, 1906); Lindinger 1933a: 143. change of combination
• Allokermes rattani (Ehrhorn, 1906); Bullington & Kosztarab 1985: 67-68. change of combination Illustr.

Common Names

• mirabilis kermes Gill1993
• Rattan's kermes BullinKo1985
• western kermes Gill1993

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 2

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• Gill1993: pp.132 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to California Kermesidae]
• BullinKo1985: pp.29 ( Adult (F) ) [Adult females of Allokermes]
• MacGil1921: pp.197 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Kermes ] Key as: Kermes occidentalis
• MacGil1921: pp.196 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Kermes] Key as: Kermes mirabilis
• MacGil1921: pp.197 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Kermes]

Remarks

• Systematics: Ferris (1920b and 1955a) considered Kermes mirabilis and K. occidentalis to be junior synonyms of Allokermes rattani. Hoy (1963) agreed with the synonomy of K. mirabilis, but listed K. occidentalis as distinct. Bullington & Kosztarab (1985) state that based on the type locality data, Kermes mirabilis and Allokermes rattani are probably identical, but they still listed the species as distinct. We here tentatively accept Ferris's synonyms, but further study of type material is needed.
• Structure: Adult female is globose with a smooth, but not shiny surface and is light brown to gray in color with four or five transverse bands and often spotted (King, 1914e). Larvae are reddish purple and partially covered with secretion. Male sac is snow white, elongate oval and convex above. Adult male is small with a dark red abdomen and black thorax and head (Ehrhorn, 1906).
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustration by Bullington & Kosztarab (1985). Additional illustration by Gill (1993).

Illustrations

Citations