Biology and Management of Allokermes kingii (Hemiptera: Kermisidae) on Oak Trees (Quercus spp.)    (View PDF)

Jay Cee L. Turner and Eileen A. Buss

Abstract: The northern red-oak kermes scale, Allokermes kingii (Cockerell), is a native, gall-like scale insect found on oak trees (Quercus spp.) in the United States. Its feeding causes branch dieback, flagging, reduced growth rates, and occasionally tree death. Allokermes kingii has one generation a year throughout most of the United States, but we found two generations a year in Florida. It also infests Q. geminata Small and Q. virginiana Miller, which represent new host records. The insecticides tested (acephate, bifenthrin, imidacloprid, horticultural oil, and combined acephate and oil) appeared to suppress the nymphal population, but none caused >42% mortality. Very few natural enemies occurred on the study trees, and were thus considered ineffective at reducing the scale population at this site.

Keywords: Allokermes kingii; insecticide trial; Kermisidae; northern red-oak kermes; Quercus geminata; Quercus virginiana.

https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2005.025