Kermes insect Martin Frobene Ledermuller

Studies of the life cycle of the scale insect Kermes vermilio, used in the production of classical Kermes vermillion dye in the Mediterranean region. Among the figures, the insect is shown at different developmental stages under magnification and at natural size, in its usual plant habitat, the Kermes oak Quercus coccifera.

Plate 36 from Amusement microscopique, tant pour l'esprit que pour les yeux, contenant... estampes... d'apres nature...by Martin Frobene Ledermuller, plates volume (Adam Wolfgang Winterschmidt, Nuremburg, 1764).

Inscribed above: ‘TAB.XXXVI.’ Inscribed below: ‘M.F.L. del. A.W.W. exc:’

The accompanying text is headed: ‘Table XXVI. Des Vers du Kermès.’ The author comments that: ‘Pour m’acquiter de ma Promesse, je done ici une quatrième Espèce de Cochenille qui a été décrire par le Comte de Marsilli. Elle est encore de las Classe des Insectes de Galle et on la trouve reconnue pour telle tant par Reaumur, que par Marsilli et par d’autres..’ [To acquit myself of my promise, here I show a fourth species of Cochineal which has been described by the Count of Marsilli. It is still from the class of scale insects and is recognized as such by Reaumur, Marsilli and others…]

Martin Frobene [Frobenius] Ledermuller (1719-1769) German naturalist was employed in various capacities as a notary, turning to microscope studies after an illness induced temporary deafness.