Scale insects are the source of cochineal red dye and shellac resin, used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Their welfare is invisible to most consumers but raises important ethical questions.
Scale insects lead sedentary lives attached to plant surfaces, feeding through piercing mouthparts. Their simple nervous systems make sentience uncertain, but the scale of killing for cosmetic purposes is extremely large. Cochineal death involves drying or crushing. Shellac harvesting kills large numbers of lac insects. Given the availability of plant-based alternatives, the precautionary principle supports avoiding these products when alternatives exist.