Among the variety of insects which could have been used to produce red dyes only three were of any importance. These were kermococcus vermilio planchon, giving kermes; porphyrophora polonica l., giving polish cohineal; and porphyrophora hameli brandt, giving the obscure armenian cochineal. The work described provides new evidence for the chemical nature of the colorants in Polish and Armenian cochineals. Polish cochineal is known to be a mixture of carminic and kermesic acids. The exact prortions were disputed for some years but now it is considered that the colorant consists mainly of carminic acid with a minor proportion of kermesic. Using TLC and HPLC the colorant in Armenian cochineal has now been shown to be carminic acid, as in cochineal itself. This would make it difficult to distinguish between occurrences of armenian cochineal or cochineal, although further research might bring to light differences in minor components. Details are given of experimental work carried out. References.