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Kerriidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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
Lindinger, 1937
Synonyms[1]

Kerridae

Kerriidae is a family of scale insects,[2] commonly known as lac insects or lac scales, erected by Karl Lindinger in 1937.

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]

Commercilly-used species include:

Genera

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The Global Biodiversity Information Facility[1] lists:

  1. Afrotachardina Chamberlin, 1923
  2. Albotachardina Zhang, 1992
  3. Austrotachardia Chamberlin, 1923
  4. Austrotachardiella Chamberlin, 1923
  5. Kerria Targioni-Tozzetti, 1884 - type genus
  6. Laccifer Oken, 1815
  7. Metatachardia Chamberlin, 1923
  8. Paratachardina Balachowsky, 1950
  9. Tachardia Blanchard, 1886
  10. Tachardiella Cockerell, 1901
  11. Tachardina Cockerell, 1901

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Global Biodiversity Information Facility: family Keriidae (retrieved 19 July 2025)
  2. ^ 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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