Olliffiella cristicola

Olliffiella secunda

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**Olliffiella cristicola Cockerell**  

**Type Material Studied:**  
- **Lectotype:** From *Quercus "wrightii"*, New Mexico, Pinos Altos, Aug. 3, 1896. Specimen 1(1), USNM 102.  
- The illustration and measurements were based on the following lot:  
  - *Quercus emoryi*, Arizona, Cochise Co., Portal, Southwest Research Station, Jun. 21, 1968, collected by R. F. Wilkey, specimens 1(1) RFW and 1(1) USNM.  

**Additional Material Studied:**  
- *Quercus emoryi*:  
  - Arizona, Pine, Oct. 1939, collected by Mrs. N. W. Capron, specimens 2(2), USNM.  
  - Arizona, near Prescott, Jun. 28, 1935, through L. H. Weld, specimens 1(3), USNM.  
  - Arizona, Dragoon Pass, Jul. 6, 1949, collected by GFF, specimen 1(1), UCO.  
  - Arizona, Sycamore Flat, Nov. 21, 1918, collected by G. Hofer, specimens 1(3), USNM.  
  - Arizona, Wolf Creek, Sep. 26, 1945, collected by L. H. Weld, specimens 1(2), USNM.  

- *Quercus sp.*:  
  - Arizona, east of Vail, Jun. 1918, collected by GFF, specimen 1(1), UCO.  

**Gall Description:**  
The galls, located on the undersurface of the leaf, are 10–12 mm long, 6–8 mm wide at the base, compressed laterally to 5–9 mm, and taper into a sharp point. The gall opening is an elongate slit parallel to the midrib on the upper surface of the leaf. Two to four galls may be on a single leaf; occasionally, two galls are fused. Dry galls are hard and woody. The female fills the lower or pointed end of the cavity of the gall and lies with its dorsum toward the opening. The overall shape of the female is conical, conforming to the shape of the cavity, with a heavily sclerotized, flat, circular dorsum and a membranous or slightly sclerotized venter.  

It remains questionable how the first instars escape from under the female and through the opening of the gall. Nymphs that were found inside the gall, on the leaves, or near bud regions were used for this study. No information is available on the overwintering stage, on the instar starting the gall, or on the males. *O. cristicola* habitat in Arizona is given in Color Figure 4.  

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**Olliffiella secunda Ferris**  

**Synonymy:**  
- *Olliffiella secunda* Ferris, 1955a:23, 27.  

**Post-reproductive Female:**  
- Unknown.  

**Type Host and Locality:**  
- *Quercus* sp., Mexico, Guerrero, La Providencia (ca. 30 miles E of Acapulco).  

**Other Literature Citations:**  
- Sternlicht, 1974: 195–197.  

**Remarks:**  
This species has apparently been collected only once and forms a leaf gall similar to that formed by *Olliffiella cristicola* Cockerell. Ferris described the species based on third instar females, mistakenly assuming they were adults. In 1978, the second author attempted to re-collect topotype material to clarify the taxonomic status of this species but was unsuccessful.  

**Etymology:**  
The species name, *secunda*, reflects its position as the second described species in the genus *Olliffiella*.  

**Genus Overview:**  
Two species are included in the genus *Olliffiella*:  
- *O. cristicola* (distributed in the southwestern United States),  
- *O. secunda* (known from Mexico).  

**Host Associations:**  
- Hosts of *O. cristicola*: *Quercus emoryi* (occasionally *Q. hypoleucoides*).  
- Host of *O. secunda*: Unknown oak species.  

**Biological Observations:**  
Observations on the biology of *O. cristicola* are provided by Cockerell (1896a), Ferris (1919), and Kosztarab (1982). Ferris (1955a) noted that the galls of *O. secunda* resemble those of *O. cristicola*. However, the description of *O. secunda* was erroneously based on third instar nymphs.  

Unfortunately, certain developmental stages are lacking for both species, and further studies are required to confirm the validity of *O. secunda*. The second author attempted to re-collect topotype material for *O. secunda* in 1978 without success.  


Revision of the family Kermesidae (Homoptera) in the Nearctic Region based on adult and third instar females