Mouthparts and stylet penetration of the lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) (Hemiptera:Tachardiidae)

► Unique details of mouthpart - morphology of labium and stylets and salivary sheath. ► Two segmented labium with six pairs of contact-chemoreceptors on its surface. ► Mandibular stylets- serrations, maxillary- smooth external and grooved inner surface. ► Formation of salivary flanges, sheath and intracellular stylet penetration.