Kerriidae

{{Short description|Family of true bugs}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Paratachardina decorella from CSIRO.jpg

| image_caption = rosette lac scale
(Paratachardina decorella)

| taxon = Kerriidae

| authority =Lindinger, 1937

| subdivision_ranks = Genera

| subdivision =

including:

• Afrotachardina Chamberlin, 1923
• Austrotachardia Chamberlin, 1923
• Austrotachardiella Kapur 1958
• Kerria Targioni Tozzetti, 1884
• Metatachardia Chamberlin, 1923
• Paratachardina Balachowsky, 1950
• Tachardiella Cockerell, 1901
• Tachardina Cockerell, 1901

}}

Kerriidae is a family of scale insects, commonly known as lac insects or lac scales. Some members of the genera Metatachardia, Tachardiella, Austrotacharidia, Afrotachardina, Tachardina, and Kerria are raised for commercial purposes, though the most commonly cultivated species is Kerria lacca. These insects secrete a waxy resin that is harvested and converted commercially into lac and shellac, used in various dyes, cosmetics, food glazes, wood finishing varnishes and polishes.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}

Species include:

• Kerria lacca – true lac scale
• Paratachardina decorella – rosette lac scale
• Paratachardina pseudolobata – lobate lac scale