No, that is not blood on my finger. That would be terrible!
The red color on my finger is from Cochineal insects that cluster on cactus pads. They are soft-bodied, flat, oval-shaped scale insects that produce carminic acid that deters predation by other insects. Carminic acid is extracted from the body and eggs, then mixed with aluminium or calcium salts to make carmine dye, also known as cochineal. Carmine is today primarily used as a food colouring and for cosmetics.
The nymphs secrete a waxy white substance over their bodies for protection from water loss and excessive sun. This substance makes the cochineal insect appear white or grey from the outside, though the body of the insect and its nymphs produces the red pigment, which makes the insides of the insect look dark purple.
No comments:
Post a Comment