Cochineal
a dye-stuff employed in dyeing scarlet and crimson; consists of the bodies of the females of a species of a small creature, a pound of Cochineal Coccus, called C. cacti, because it feeds upon plants of the Cactus family, particularly on one, therefore designated the cochineal plant. The cochineal insect is being calculated to contain 70,000 in a neal plant has been formed the culti- (nopalero) procures branches dried state. The male is of a deep red color, and has white wings. The female, which is wingless, is of a deep brownish color. When a plantation of the cochivator laden with cochineal insects and after and the young insects, when hatched, soon spread over them. The insects are be speedily killed the eggs are laid places the females with the eggs which they cover in nests of a They must be soft substance upon the cochineal plants, killed by boiling water, by heating them to prevent them from laying their eggs, in ovens, or by exposure to the heat of the sun. They must be speedily killed to prevent them from laying their eggs, the sun. which diminishes their value.