Allokermes branigani (King)

Kermes branigani
Kermes nigropunctatus

Host--Quercus chrysolepis, wislizenii [observation on Quercus grisea listed as "questionable"]

King described the post-reproductive female as: Globular in shape, 5 mm. long, 6 mm. wide, 5 mm. high. The color is light cream, nearly white, often with bluish cast, with four broad transverse bands of very light yellowish brown. Segmentation distinct; the sutures slightly depressed and marked by small round black dots. Surface shiny and thickly covered with minute black specks. . . . There is a short, very distinct groove posteriorly reaching to the anus.

Distr: CA

Allokermes branigani (King, 1914)

Kermes branigani
Kermes nigropunctatus (misidentification)

Hosts: Quercus chrysolepis, grisea

Structure: Adult female is globular, light cream in color with four broad transverse bands of light yellowish brown (King, 1914d).

Systematics: Bullington & Kosztarab (1985) cite some misidentifications of this species as Kermes nigropunctatus and state that the two may be synonyms.

Distr: CA, TX

Kermes branigani n. sp.

Host--Quercus chrysolepis

Female scale — Globular in shape, 5 mm. long, 6 mm. wide, 5 mm. high. The color is light cream, nearly white, often with bluish cast, with four broad transverse bands of very light yellowish brown. Segmentation distinct; the sutures slightly depressed and marked by small round black dots. Surface shiny and thickly covered with minute black specks, which are seen only through a hand lens. There is a short, very distinct groove posteriorly reaching to the anus. This is a very pretty species and is closely allied with such species as Kermes galliformis, Kermes occidentalis, Kermes nigropunctatus and Kermes essigii. It is nearest to the latter and if gibbose would have been described as a variety of Kermes essigii. Taken on the smaller branches of a single large maul oak, Quercus chrysolepis Liebm., at the Rath Mine, Volcaiao Canyon, Sierra Nevada Mountains, altitude 3,500 feet, near Forest Hill, Placer County, California.

Distr: CA