Kerriidae

Kerriidae
rosette lac scale (Paratachardina decorella)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Sternorrhyncha
Superfamily:	Coccoidea
Family:	Kerriidae
Genera
including: Afrotachardina Chamberlin, 1923 Austrotachardia Chamberlin, 1923 Austrotachardiella Kapur 1958 Kerria Targioni Tozzetti, 1884 Metatachardia Chamberlin, 1923 Paratachardina Balachowsky, 1950 Tachardiella Cockerell, 1901 Tachardina Cockerell, 1901

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.

Species include:

• Kerria lacca - true lac scale
• Paratachardina decorella - rosette lac scale
• Paratachardina pseudolobata - lobate lac scale

See also

• Shellac
• Lac

References

• Ben-Dov, Y., D. R. Miller, and G. A. P. Gibson. (2006). A Systematic Catalogue of Eight Scale Insect Families (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the World. Elsevier. 247. ISBN 0-444-52836-9

External links

• Taxonomy