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 Arabic/Persian
qirmiz (قرمز), which means "red" or "crimson" (probably via
Middle Persian, from (ultimately)
Sanskrit कृमिज
kṛmi-ja meaning "worm-made").