Brown Driver Briggs

 1. worm, scarlet stuff, crimson
  1) worm - the female 'coccus ilicis'
  2) scarlet stuff, crimson, scarlet
1b1. the dye made from the dried body of the female of the
worm "coccus ilicis"
2. worm, maggot
  1) worm, grub
  2) the worm "coccus ilicis"

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When the female of the scarlet worm species was ready to give
birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of
a tree, fixing herself so firmly and permanently that she would
never leave again. The eggs deposited beneath her body were
thus protected until the larvae were hatched and able to enter
their own life cycle. As the mother died, the crimson fluid
stained her body and the surrounding wood. From the dead bodies
of such female scarlet worms, the commercial scarlet dyes of
antiquity were extracted.
What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree,
shedding His precious blood that He might "bring many sons unto
glory" (Heb. 2:10.! He died for us, that we might live through
Him!
Ps. 22:6 describes such a worm and gives us this picture of
Christ. (cf. Isa 1:18.
(from page 73, "Biblical Basis for Modern Science", 1985,
Baker Book House, by Henry Morris)