The Kermesidae, or gall-like scales, are a family of scale insects belonging to the superfamily Coccoidea.

[1] The family includes about 100 species in 10 genera found in the Nearctic, Indomalayan and Palaearctic realms.

[2] They are less than 0.5 millimetres (0.020 in) long, salmon-colored, and wingless with well-developed legs.

[2] As adults, they demonstrate significant sexual dimorphism.

Males are gnat-like with fragile wings, while females are bulbous with reduced legs and antennas, and are easily mistaken for buds or galls.