Spodek, M., Department of Entomology, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, POB 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel, Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Ben-Dov, Y., Department of Entomology, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, POB 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Ghanim, M., Department of Entomology, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, POB 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Mendel, Z., Department of Entomology, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, POB 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

Descriptions and illustrations of the adult female and first-instar nymph of the kermesid Nidularia balachowskii Bodenheimer, based on the adult female lectotype and paralectotype (here designated), and new material collected from Israel are presented. A key for the identification of first-instar nymphs of Nidularia spp. is offered. Molecular identification of N. balachowskii, using nucleotide sequences from the D2-D3 region of the 28S ribosomal gene, and the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene, is presented. Morphological and molecular analyses confirm that N. balachowskii is closely related to other species within the Kermesidae. In Israel, this species develops only on Quercus ithaburensis and is univoltine. This is the first detailed report of N. balachowskii from Israel. Copyright Malkie Spodek et al.