Скачать или смотреть Cochineal Harvest at Lucinda Garcia Park

The prickly pear or nopales (Opuntia sp.) is heavily occupied by Cochineal Scale, also called mealybug (Dactylopius coccus). They're a fuzzy white species of insects that sucks out plant juices. They are also used as a dying color for food, clothing, makeup and so much more. If you ever see carminic acid or carmine as an ingredient, you're eating bugs!

Historically, this plant has been used by the Tongva Tribe to dye various items, including baskets. Christopher Diaz, a member of the Chumash Tribe, representing the Tongva Tribe harvested stopped by Lucinda Garcia Park to harvest the Cochineal Scale off of the prickly pear and demonstrated how insects are turned into dye. We’d like to send a huge thank you to Christopher for sharing this fascinating information with us!