Issue No. 416
Jay Cee Turner, Eileen A. Buss and Albert E. Mayfield III
June, 2005
Introduction
Kermes scales, or gall-like scales (Hemiptera: Kermesidae), occur as pests of oaks (Quercus spp.) throughout the northern hemisphere. Kermes scales feed by drawing sap from the twigs (and sometimes leaves or petioles) of their hosts, which can result in growth loss, branch dieback, leaf distortion, and the accumulation of sooty mold fungi. In North America and Mexico, there are 32 species of Kermesidae in five genera, but in northeastern North America, there are nine species in four genera (Eriokermes, Nanokermes, Allokermes, and Kermes) (Bullington and Kosztarab 1985). There are five Allokermes spp. in Florida: A. cueroensis (Cockerell), A. galliformis (Riley), A. gillettei (Cockerell), A. kingii (Cockerell), and A. kosztarabi (Baer). Of these, only A. cueroensis, A. galliformis and A. kingii are of economic importance.