Kermes is a genus of scale insects in the order Hemiptera. They feed on the sap of evergreen oaks; the females produce a red dye, also called "kermes", that is the source of natural crimson. The word "kermes" is derived from Persian or Turkish qirmiz or kirmizi (قرمز), "crimson" (both the colour and the dyestuff). There are some 20 species, including: Kermes bacciformis Leonardi, 1908 Kermes corticalis (Nassonov, 1908) Kermes echinatus (Balachowsky, 1953) Kermes gibbosus Signoret, 1875 Kermes ilicis (Linnaeus, 1758) Kermes roboris (Fourcroy, 1785) Kermes vermilio Planchon, 1864 References External links Conservation and Art Material Encyclopedia Online Kermesidae Sternorrhyncha genera