Kerriidae

Kerriidae
rosette lac scale
(Paratachardina decorella)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Sternorrhyncha
Superfamily: Coccoidea
Family: Kerriidae
Genera

including:

Kerriidae is a family of scale insects, commonly known as lac insects or lac scales. Some members of the genera Metatachardia, Tachardiella, Austrotacharidia, Afrotachardina, Tachardina, and Kerria are raised for commercial purposes, though the most commonly cultivated species is Kerria lacca. These insects secrete a waxy resin that is harvested and converted commercially into lac and shellac, used in various dyes, cosmetics, food glazes, wood finishing varnishes and polishes.[citation needed]

Species include:

See also

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References

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  • Ben-Dov, Yair; et al. (Miller, Douglass R.; Gibson, Gary A. P.) (2006). A Systematic Catalogue of Eight Scale Insect Families (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of The World. Elsevier Science. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-444-52836-0.
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