Kermococcus ilicis

The dyestuff, which is also called scarlet or carmine, may be obtained from the dried female kermes scale-insects (various species, e.g. Kermes ver-milio and Kermococcus ilicis L.) by extraction with ethanol (Fig. 2.19). Ker-mesic acid serves as an ant repellent to these insects living on Kermes oaks Quercus coccifera) in the Mediterranean. [50] The Polish cochineal (Por-phyrophora polonica L.), which lives on the roots of a member of the carnation family (Perennial knawel, Scleranthusperennis), was first mentioned in 812 in Charlemagne s Capitulare. It was also known as Saint John s blood , because harvesting began by tradition on the feast-day of St John the Baptist (June 24) (Fig. 2.20). 

Kermesic acid an anthraquinone, m.p. 250 °C (d.), which occurs naturally as a bright red insect dye. It is structurally closely related to Carminic acid (see) it possesses the identical structure of a tetrahydroxyla-ted methylanthraquinone carboxylic acid, but there is no C-glycosidic glucose on C2. K.a. makes up 1-2% of kermes, the dried bodies of female scale insects Kermococcus ilicis. Kermes is one of the oldest known dyes and was used in ancient times as a scarlet mordant dye (Venetian scarlet), It was supplanted in the 16th century by cochineal. 

Carmine belongs to the anthraquinone class of compounds and several other chemically closely related compounds are also used as colorants.25 Kermes is a well known colorant in Europe. It is obtained from the insects, Kermes ilicis or Kermococcus vermilis, which grow on oak trees. It contains kermisic acid, the aglycone of carminic acid, and its isomer ceroalbolinic acid. Its properties are very similar to carmine. Lac is a red colorant obtained from the insect Laccifera lacca which is found on several families of trees in India and Malaysia. The lac insects are better known for their production of shellac. They contain a complex mixture of anthraquinones. Alkanet is a red pigment from the roots of Alkanna tinctoria Taush and Alchusa tinctoria Lom. All three have been cleared for food use in Europe but not in the US. 

Kermococcus vermilio PLANCHON (Kermes vermilio (PLANCH.) TARG.) formerly Kermes ilicis L. (10) (Coccidae) (C.I. Natural Red 3)... 

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