Cochineal Scale
Scientific Name: 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.
Identified on: 3/4/2026