Spodek, M., Department of Entomology, ARO, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
Mendel, Z., Department of Entomology, ARO, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Ben-Dov, Y., Department of Entomology, ARO, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel

Aspects of the biology and life history of six Kermesidae species were studied in Israel between the years 2010 and 2013, namely five species of Kermes Boitard: Kermes echinatus Balachowsky, K. greeni Bodenheimer, K. hermonensis Spodek & Ben-Dov, K. nahalali Bodenheimer and K. spatulatus Balachowsky and one species of Nidularia, N. balachowskii Bodenheimer. All six species are oviparous, bi-sexual, univoltine and oligophagous on Quercus spp. (Fagaceae). The five Kermes species spend the winter, summer and autumn as first-instar nymphs, while it is the mated adult female of N. balachowskii that occurs during this period. The geographic distribution and host trees in Israel are reported for each of the six Kermesidae species. Information about associated ant fauna is also discussed. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.