Kerriidae

Definition

A family of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) commonly known as lac insects or lac scales, characterized by females that secrete large quantities of resinous lac from specialized dermal glands. The family was erected by Karl Lindinger in 1937 and includes economically significant species harvested for shellac, dye, and wax production.

Etymology

From Kerria (type genus, honoring William Kerr, Scottish gardener and plant collector) + -idae (family suffix).

Example

Kerria lacca, the principal commercial lac insect, is cultivated on host trees such as Schleichera and Ziziphus in India and Thailand; dense aggregations of females encrust twigs and secrete layers of lac that are scraped, processed, and refined into shellac.

Synonyms

• lac-insect family
• lac scales (informal)

Related Terms

• Coccoidea
• scale insect
• Kerria
• Shellac
• resin gland
• Lindinger
• Hemiptera

Usage Notes

The family was historically treated as part of Lacciferidae or Tachardiidae; Kerriidae is now the accepted name following taxonomic revision. The spelling 'Kerridae' (without the second 'i') appears in older literature and should be avoided. Commercial 'lac' refers specifically to the processed resinous secretion, not the insect itself.