Each insect, known as Dactylopius coccus, must be bred to a larvae stage and “planted” on a previously wounded cactus pad, and then left for months to feed and mature. Sign up for the Daily ...

These popular colorants, which today are used to impart a deep red shade to fruit juices, gelatins, candies, shampoos, and more, come from the female Dactylopius coccus, an insect that inhabits a ...

The species called cochineal, Dactylopius coccus, primarily attacks the prickly pears, but it does show up on other cactus too when conditions are right. The hungry babies will infest the next ...

The coloring in question, cochineal, is made from a tiny white insect, Dactylopius coccus. When crushed, its body exudes a brilliant red color. Cochineal has been used as a coloring for foods and ...

the red "juice" a tiny white bug called Dactylopius coccus exudes when crushed, to color certain food and drinks. Today, Starbucks President Cliff Burrows announced the company would color the ...

Each insect, known as Dactylopius coccus, must be bred to a larvae stage and "planted" on a previously wounded cactus pad, and then left for months to feed and mature. Then each must be harvested ...

Also, it's been used in food and cosmetics for hundreds of years. It comes from a specific little bug called Dactylopius coccus; when the insect is squished, the cochineal comes out. It's a ...