Kermes vermilio is a species of Kermes that feeds on trees. Some of the species are used by humans to make vermilion; though a mineral form used in many cultures and discovered at a similar time is cinnabar (crystallized HgS, mercury sulfide).[1] For details of further chemical alternatives see vermilion.

Kermes vermilio
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Sternorrhyncha
Family: Kermesidae
Genus: Kermes
Species:
K. vermilio
Binomial name
Kermes vermilio
Planchon, 1864

Sister species

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The word (and dye) crimson is a corruption-derivative of kermes – the organism's genus, chiefly referring to its other species.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Eastaugh, Nicholas (2004). Pigment Compendium: A Dictionary of Historical Pigments. Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 211. ISBN 0-7506-5749-9.
  2. ^ Naturenet article with images and description of Kermes vermilio and its foodplant