scale? - Dactylopius - BugGuide.Net

Oh, much better than scale, Matt.

Cochineal insect, subject of this search:
http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=cochineal&search=Search

(Please search again yourself if the link goes nowhere.)

… Ron Hemberger, 12 January, 2009 - 4:36pm

Hi Ron,
I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean by "better". The info page on the link you gave said it was scale. I guess it IS a scale?
Thanks.

… Matt Edmonds, 12 January, 2009 - 9:19pm

Maybe I was a bit cryptic. Sorry!

This is the cochineal insect, a remarkable critter that's been the subject of books. It's been used in dye for centuries and is what made the Red Coats coats red. Today, it's widely used as food coloring, in yogurt and ice cream for instance. Neat stuff!

… Ron Hemberger, 12 January, 2009 - 11:37pm

Hi Ron, I see what you meant now....duh. I'm a bit slow, sorry!!
Thanks for the ID!

… Matt Edmonds, 13 January, 2009 - 8:06am

You're welcome, and I wasn't very clear.

Intent was to provide sort of an overview of all the neat stuff in that tiny, complex environment you discovered, including the tiny wasps. (I never did get to shoot the flies that are supposed to be there.)

… Ron Hemberger, 13 January, 2009 - 11:16am

Cochineal extract

The FDA has just decided to require labeling of products containing cochineal extract. Apparently some people have allergic reactions.

… Charley Eiseman, 12 January, 2009 - 11:48pm

Interesting.

I asked a vegan friend what she thought about its use. "Better than Red Dye #5" was her reply.

… Ron Hemberger, 12 January, 2009 - 11:52pm

Sort of

They're in the same group (Coccoidea) as scales and mealybugs. Sometimes called cochineal scales.
...Somehow I didn't click on this one till I'd already commented on the other three!

… Charley Eiseman, 12 January, 2009 - 9:52pm