Notes on Cochineal Insect and Its Significance

Introduction

Hemolymph: Unlike most insects that have clear hemolymph, cochineal has a rich crimson hemolymph.
Life Cycle:
- Starts as a tiny nymph (crawler) that seeks out cactus pads as its habitat.
- Initially bright red, the nymph soon gets coated in white wax filaments for protection against the sun.
- Female cochineals anchor themselves to a cactus and spend their entire life there, eating and growing.
- Males develop wings to find mates but often find females nearby.
- Females lay eggs shortly after mating, and nymphs hatch quickly.

Carmine Acid:
- Responsible for the deep red color of cochineal.
- Acts as a bitter deterrent to predators, except for some beetle larvae that consume them.
Most concentrated in female cochineals, which live for 3-4 months.

Harvesting involves gently brushing the insects off cacti and sun-drying them.
Indigenous people in Mexico cultivated cochineal long before it became a global commodity in the 1700s, valued as much as silver.
The dye is known for its vibrant color and fade resistance.

Example from El Zapot town:
- Weaver Marina Gonzalez grinds dried cochineal on a matate.
- The powder is dissolved in boiling water to dye wool.
- Her son cleans and dries the dyed wool, while her other son weaves it into tapestries.
- Approximately 5,000 dried cochineals are needed to dye a medium-sized tapestry.

Cochineal is used in food industries as a natural dye, labeled as Carmine or E120.
It is a non-vegetarian product and may cause allergies in some consumers.

Cochineal's vibrant color is considered one of nature's closest approaches to a perfect red.
Though cochineal insects have a short life span, their legacy endures in various applications.