INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



115 



COCKERELL'S KERMES 



Kermes cockerelli Ehrhorn 



(Fig. 94b) 



Description. — The mature females vary from light yellow to rich 

 reddish-brown in color. They are nearly globular and decidedly gib- 

 bose, there being three transverse and one longitudinal sutures tra- 

 versing the dorsum. The surface is shiny and lacks the minute black 

 specks found in a number of species. The diameter averages about 

 -/u inch. The young and half-grown females are beautifully light red 

 marked with bright yellow. Thev are not gibbose until nearly mature. 



Fig. 94. — a, the western Kermes, Kermes occidentalis King; 

 b, Cockerell's Kermes, Kermes cockerelli Ehrh. ; c, the gall-like 

 Kermes. Kermes gulliformis Riley. Enlarged three times. (After 

 King. Photo by author. P. C. Jr. Ent. and Zool.) 



Distribution. — This is the most common of the California species 

 and is very abundant in the central and northern parts of the State. 



Food Plants. — The range of oaks upon vdiich this species feeds is 

 quite wide and includes the valley oak, maul oak and black oak, and 

 probably others. 



ESSIG'S KERMES 

 Kermes essigii King 



(Fig. 95) 



Description. — The full-grown females are nearly globular or 

 slightly elongated, yellow to light brown, with cream-colored cross 

 bands. Some specimens are quite dark and many are gibbose. The 

 surface is shiny and peppered with many very minute and a few 

 quite large black dots. The illustration (Fig. 95) gives a good idea 

 of the shape and markings. The average width is about T 3 e inch, 

 the length about | inch. The young females are dark reddish-brown 

 and elongate or oval. This species is closely related to Kermes nigro- 

 punctatus and K. galliformis, but is larger than the former and the 

 gibbose bodj r separates it from the latter. 



Distribution. — The species was first collected in the Santa Paula 

 Canyon, Ventura County, by Fred Essig and later by the writer. 

 S. A. Pease took it the next year at Ontario, San Bernardino County, 



