Community identification
Cochineal Scale
Dactylopius coccus
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera; Family Dactylopiidae
- Size
- Females are approximately 5 mm (0.20 in) long; males are smaller.
Natural Habitat
Subtropical and tropical regions, primarily residing on prickly pear cacti (Opuntia species).
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they feed on the moisture and nutrients (sap) of prickly pear cacti using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Behavior Patterns
Sessile (immobile) as adults; they secrete a white, waxy substance for protection against heat and predators. They aggregate in clusters on cactus pads.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: A primary source of natural carmine (red) dye used in textiles, food (E120), and cosmetics. Risks: Can be a pest to cactus plants; they pose no direct risk to humans, though some may have rare allergic reactions to the dye.