wax insect

noun

1
: any of several scales of the family Coccidae that secrete a wax from their bodies
especially : a Chinese scale (Ericerus pe-la) that yields much of the commercial Chinese wax
2
: any of several homopterous insects of the family Fulgoridae that secrete a wax used by the Chinese (as for candles)

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Cite this Entry

“Wax insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wax%20insect. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

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