Cochineal
The cochineal (/ ˌ k ɒ tʃ ɪ ˈ n iː l / KOTCHihNEEL, / ˈ k ɒ tʃ ɪ n iː l / KOTCHihneel; 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 ...