Prickly pear cactus (nopal) with Cochineal parasites (Dactylopius coccus)
The Cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the crimson-coloured dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America and Mexico, this insect lives on cacti from the genus Opuntia, feeding on plant moisture and nutrients. The insect produces carminic acid that deters predation by other insects. Carminic acid, which occurs as 17-24% of the weight of the dry insects, can be extracted from the insect's body and eggs and mixed with aluminum or calcium salts to make carmine dye (also known as cochineal).Cochineal dye was used by the Aztec and Maya peoples of Central and North America.
Size: 3610px × 2400px
Location: Teotihuacan, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
Photo credit: © Guillermo Lopez Barrera / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: acid, aztec, cactus, carmine, carminic, coccus, cochineal, cochinilla, colorant, crimson, dactylopius, dye, grana, maya, mexico, natural, nopal, nopales, opuntia, paddle, parasite, pear, prickly
