Allokermes kingii

Allokermes kingii (Cockerell)

Kermes kingi Cockerell, 1898 ca. 

Talla kingi Lindinger, 1933. 

Allokermes kingi Bullington and Kosztarab, 1985.

Hosts: All records of infestation are reported from Quercus spp. except for one record on Castanopsis in California (Ferris 1955) and Junipercus sp. Allokermes kingii occur on Quercus borealis [rubra] (Michaux), Quercus coccinea (Muenchhausen), Quercus geminata (Small), Quercus ilicifolia (Wangenheimd), Quercus imbricaria (Michaux), Quercus laurifolia (Michaux), Quercus phellos (Linnaeus), Quercus rubra (Linnaeus), Quercus velutina (Lamarck), and Quercus virginiana (Miller). The primary hosts are Quercus borealis [rubra] and Quercus velutina. 

Adult females are about 5 mm long, 4.3 mm wide, and about 3.5 mm high. Adult females are covered with a protective shell that is an integral part of their bodies. The secretion of wax from pores creates a very convex shell. The color is pale brownish-yellow, marbled with a slightly darker red tint, with small black spots covering the entire surface.

Distribution: Allokermes kingii is native to North America, but occurs throughout the world. It occurs in 32 states in the U.S., and is largely absent in the western states. In Florida, Allokermes kingii occurs in Alachua, Gilchrist, Hendry, Pinellas and Polk Counties (Scalenet 2004). 

Featured Creatures: northern red-oak kermes