Perennial knawel

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). 

The female cochineal scale Insects attach themselves to and feed from the cactus previously they had been misconceived as fruits of the plants (a). - The larvae of Porphyrophora polonica are sessile parasites living on the roots of the perennial knawel (b), growing on sandy soils of Central Europe. 

Polish cochineal. Insect (female) found on roots of the knawel (Scleranthus perennis L.) as host plant. 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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