Cochineal Insect (Noun)
Meaning
Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti; the source of a red dye.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The cochineal insect, native to Mexico, has been a significant source of food coloring for centuries due to its vibrant red pigment.
- Cochineal insect, also known as the red scale insect, primarily feeds on the prickly pear and other types of cacti found in Mexico.
- Mexican artisanship often incorporates the use of the cochineal insect, using its extract to dye materials, such as silk and wool.
- When it was discovered that the cochineal insect was the primary producer of this vibrant red dye, its demand skyrocketed, influencing Spanish colonization.
- Aztecs, before the Spanish conquest, frequently utilized the cochineal insect's red pigment in traditional ceremonies and as a sign of nobility.