Title: Cochineal

Literature References: The dried female insect, Coccus cacti L., enclosing the young larvae. Habit. Mexico, Central America; cultivated in West Indies, Canary Islands, Algiers, and Southern Spain. About 70,000 insects to 1 lb. Constit. About 10% carminic acid, about 2% coccerin (a wax), about 10% fat. The coloring matter, alkali carminate, is contained only in the fatty parts of the insect and in the yolk of the eggs, to the extent of 10-14%.

Use: Coloring food products and toilet preparations; the source of carmine and carminic acid for manuf red and pink inks and lakes.