Download GIF - Insect Coloring Pages Download HD
The cochineal ( KOTCH-ih-NEEL, KOTCH-ih-neel, 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. 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). The carmine dye was used in North America in the 15th century for coloring fabrics and became an important export good during the colonial period. After synthetic pigments and dyes such as alizarin were invented in the late 19th century, natural-dye production gradually diminished. Health fears over artificial food additives, however, have renewed the popularity of cochineal dyes, and the increased demand has made cultivation of the insect profitable again, with Peru being the largest exporter. Some towns in the Mexican state of Oaxaca are still working in handmade textiles using this cochineal. 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, that scientific term from the binary nomenclature, and also the vernacular 'cochineal insect', may be used (whether intentionally or casually, and whether or not with misleading effect) to refer to other biological species.
This GIF Bitmap Image Insect Coloring Pages Download HD is a part of Coloring Insects Category in Coloring Folder. Insect Coloring Pages Download HD has a Resolution of 540x720 Pixels. Insect Coloring Pages Download HD is of .gif (Graphics Interchange Format) Format. It's Size is 44.6KB. This GIF has been Downloaded 74 times till now. Insect Coloring Pages Download HD was Added on 20-08-2022. Download Insect Coloring Pages Download HD by clicking the button below:
Image Name: Insect Coloring Pages Download HD
Image Category: Coloring / Coloring Insects
Date Added: 20-08-2022
Resolution: 540x720
Format: GIF
Downloads: 74
Views: 160
Size: 44.6KB