coccus and the vernacular "cochineal insect" are sometimes used, intentionally or casually, and possibly with misleading effect, to refer to other species. coccus, even for expert taxonomists the scientific term D. Other species in the genus Dactylopius can be used to produce "cochineal extract", and are extremely difficult to distinguish from D. Fears over the safety of artificial food additives renewed the popularity of cochineal dyes, and the increased demand has made cultivation of the insect profitable again, with Peru being the largest producer, followed by Mexico, Chile, Argentina and the Canary Islands. After synthetic pigments and dyes such as alizarin were invented in the late 19th century, use of natural-dye products gradually diminished. Production of cochineal is depicted in the Codex Osuna (1565). Today, carmine is primarily used as a colorant in food and in lipstick ( E120 or Natural Red 4).Ĭarmine dye was used in the Americas for coloring fabrics and became an important export good in the 16th century during the colonial period. Carminic acid, typically 17–24% of dried insects' weight, can be extracted from the body and eggs, then mixed with aluminium or calcium salts to make carmine dye, also known as cochineal. The insect produces carminic acid that deters predation by other insects. The insects are found on the pads of prickly pear cacti, collected by brushing them off the plants, and dried.Ĭhemical structure of carminic acid, the predator-deterring substance found in high concentration in cochineal insects: The insoluble aluminium and calcium salts of this acid form red and purple dyes called " carmine". A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America through North America ( Mexico and the Southwest United States), this insect lives on cacti in the genus Opuntia, feeding on plant moisture and nutrients. Clinical variants of pityriasis rosea.The cochineal ( / ˌ k ɒ tʃ ɪ ˈ n iː l, ˈ k ɒ tʃ ɪ n iː l/ KOTCH-ih- NEEL, -neel, US also / ˌ k oʊ tʃ ɪ ˈ n iː l, ˈ k oʊ tʃ ɪ n iː l/ KOH-chih- Dactylopius coccus) is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived.
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