Cochineal
| M |
|
|
Cochineal
|
|
|
|
 |
|||
| Cochineal dye | Cochineal on cactus | |||
| Photo used with permission from: Texas Beyond History, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin | ||||
|
Cochineal insects are homopterans used for the red dye they
produce. This dye was first used by Native Americans and now is still
used in food coloring (lipstick as well!). Cochineals live on the pads
or leaves of prickly pear cactus. They are hard to see and look kind of
like a cotton ball. However, if you were to pick one up and squeeze it
your hand would get red dye on it as pictured above left. |
|||||
|
|
