A taxonomic revision of the Kermesidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in Israel, with a description of a new species.

A taxonomic revision is presented of the six Kermesidae species from Israel, namely, Kermes echinatus Balachowsky, K. greeni Bodenheimer, K. nahalali Bodenheimer, K. spatulatus Balachowsky, Nidularia balachowskii Bodenheimer, and K. hermonensis Spodek & Ben-Dov sp. n. Kermes bytinskii Sternlicht, syn. n. is established as a junior synonym of K. nahalali Bodenheimer and a lectotype for K. nahalali is designated. This study includes descriptions, redescriptions and illustrations of the adult female, adult male and all developmental stages for these six species. Keys are provided to distinguish between instars, adult females, adult males and immature stages for all species.