Species of insect producing the crimson dye carmine
This article is about the crimson-dye-producing insect of the Dactylopiidae family. It is not to be confused with the crimson-dye-producing insects of the Margarodidae family sometimes called Armenian cochineal and Polish cochineal.
The cochineal (/ˌkɒtʃɪˈniːl,ˈkɒtʃɪniːl/KOTCH-ih-NEEL, -neel, US also /ˌkoʊtʃɪˈniːl,ˈkoʊtʃɪniːl/KOH-chih-;[1]Dactylopius coccus) is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. 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. The insects are found on the pads of prickly pear cacti, collected by brushing them off the plants, and dried.
Chemical 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".
The insect produces carminic acid that deters predation by other insects. 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. Today, carmine is primarily used as a colorant in food and in lipstick (E120 or Natural Red 4).
Carmine dye was used in the Americas for coloring fabrics and became an important export good in the 16th century during the colonial period. Production of cochineal is depicted in the Codex Osuna (1565).[2] After synthetic pigments and dyes such as alizarin were invented in the late 19th century, use of natural-dye products gradually diminished. 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,[3] with Peru being the largest producer, followed by Mexico, Chile, Argentina and the Canary Islands.[4]
Other species in the genus Dactylopius can be used to produce "cochineal extract", and are extremely difficult to distinguish from D. coccus, even for expert taxonomists; the scientific term D. coccus and the vernacular "cochineal insect" are sometimes used, intentionally or casually, and possibly with misleading effect, to refer to other species.[note 1]
^Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
^Nahuatl Community: Cultivation of cacti for the production of the red dye cochineal. Codex Osuna: Seven documents presented as evidence against the Viceroy Luis de Velasco during the 1563-1566 inquiry by Jeronimo de Valderrama. Folio 500v. Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid. 1565. p. 258.
^Liberato Portillo Martinez; Ana Lilia Vigueras Guzmán (1998-04-15). "Natural Enemies of Cochineal (Dactylopius coccus Costa): Importance in Mexico". Journal of the Professional Association for Cactus Development. 3. Retrieved 28 March 2022.[permanent dead link]
^Cite error: The named reference Miller was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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The cochineal (/ˌkɒtʃɪˈniːl, ˈkɒtʃɪniːl/ KOTCH-ih-NEEL, -neel, US also /ˌkoʊtʃɪˈniːl, ˈkoʊtʃɪniːl/ KOH-chih-; Dactylopius coccus) is a scale insect in...
Carmine (/ˈkɑːrmən, ˈkɑːrmaɪn/) – also called cochineal (when it is extracted from the cochineal insect), cochineal extract, crimson lake, or carmine lake –...
Polish cochineal (Porphyrophora polonica, Margarodes polonicus), also known as Polish carmine scales (Polish: czerwiec polski), is a scale insect formerly...
The Armenian cochineal (Porphyrophora hamelii), also known as the Ararat cochineal or Ararat scale, is a scale insect indigenous to the Ararat plain and...
Cochineal Red may refer to: the red pigment carmine Cochineal Red A, a synthetic colourant known as Ponceau 4R Cochineal Red: travels through ancient Peru...
occurs naturally in some scale insects, such as the cochineal, Armenian cochineal, and Polish cochineal. The insects produce the acid as a deterrent to predators...
produce the same effect as cochineal. Carmine is the name given to the dye made from the dried bodies of the female cochineal, although the name crimson...
created from dyestuffs from mineral and animal sources, The best known is cochineal, made from insects. Red Lake pigments are famous for their translucency...
body and eggs to make the red dye. Cochineal is used primarily as a red food colouring and for cosmetics. The cochineal dye was used by the Aztec and Maya...
(known by more than 100 synonyms,: 460–461 including as C.I. 16255, cochineal red A, C.I. acid red 18, brilliant scarlet 3R, brilliant scarlet 4R, new...
trade goods in the economies of Asia, Africa and Europe. Dyes such as cochineal and logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum) were brought to Europe by the...
commonly as cochineals, a name that also specifically refers to the best-known species, the cochineal (Dactylopius coccus). The cochineal is an insect...
Cochineal prickly pear is a common name which may refer to several species of cactus in the genus Opuntia including: Opuntia ficus-indica Opuntia monacantha...
brilliant red costumes for the nobility and wealthy were dyed with kermes and cochineal. The 19th century brought the introduction of the first synthetic red...
reactions to each mordant. For example, cochineal scarlet, or Dutch scarlet as it came to be known, used cochineal along with a tin mordant to create a brilliant...
Italy. It was originally coloured with carmine dye, derived from crushed cochineal insects, which gave the drink its distinctive red colour. Campari Group...
the organism's genus, chiefly referring to its other species. Cochineal Armenian cochineal (kirmiz) Vermilion Eastaugh, Nicholas (2004). Pigment Compendium:...
Polish cochineal and Armenian cochineal formerly used in dye production. Wolfe, D.; Baker, H. (1766). "A farther account of the Polish cochineal". Philosophical...
fur to make items such as coats and hats. Dyestuffs including carmine (cochineal), shellac, and kermes have been made from the bodies of insects. Working...
القرمز, romanized: al-qirmiz, lit. 'cochineal', from Persian: کرمست, romanized: kermest, lit. 'bloody, red, cochineal, carmine') is a type of Italian liqueur...
Carmine lake, also called crimson lake, was originally produced from the cochineal insect, native to Central and South America. When the Spanish conquered...
mains des peuples, p. 137–38 LaVerne M. Dutton. "Cochineal: A Bright Red Animal Dye" (PDF). Cochineal.info. p. 57. Archived (PDF) from the original on...
Dactylopius opuntiae, also known as the prickly pear cochineal, is a species of scale insect in the family Dactylopiidae. Dactylopius opuntiae was first...
fried. Traditionally, chip shops coloured the pastie's filling with a cochineal dye, giving it a bright pink colour, supposedly to make the snack more...
hemipterans, have been cultivated for the extraction of dyestuffs such as cochineal and carmine, and for shellac. Cicadas have been used as food, and have...
each 4,200 pesos. The most important commodity for Oaxaca was cochineal red dye. Cochineal's commodity chain is an interesting one, with indigenous peasants...
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