Cochineals are farmed in the traditional method by planting infected cactus pads or infesting existing cacti with cochineals and harvesting the insects by hand. The controlled method uses small baskets called Zapotec nests placed on host cacti. White fuzzy lumps on paddle cactus indicate the presence of a parasite that pierces the plant's skin and consumes its juices. A bit of cochineal (coach-en-ee-al) scale is no big deal, but it does tend to spread and may eventually kill the plant. CochinealScaleonCactus. These small insects suck oncacti leaves. Cochinealscaleoncactus is initially a nuisance but, in extreme infestations, can weaken and kill the plant. The cottony, waxy mass is produced to shelter the female insects and their eggs. Cochineal insects feed exclusively on prickly pear cactus. The insects insert their mouthparts into the cactus pads and suck out plant juices. Feeding can cause yellowing of cactus pads and heavy infestations can lead to browning and possible death of the plant. cochinealoncactus. The cochineal, or “crimson,” scale has played what is perhaps a unique role for insects on the world stage, having parts in textile manufacturing, territorial conquest, international commerce, cosmetic production, food processing and even science and art. CochinealScaleonCactus: Threats and Integrated Pest Management. Zoom Meeting. In collaboration between: the National Agricultural Research Center University of Jordan and The International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). . Cochineal mealybug scale usually appears on prickly pear cactus and chollas, but it can also attack other cacti. To kill the cochineal mealybug, use a hose end sprayer. Fill 1/2 with insecticidal soap (Home Depot stocks) and the other 1/2 with water. Red Cochineal dye comes from a scale insect named Dactylopus coccus that feeds onCactus. Originally, in the Southwest US into Sub-tropical South America. This dye has an expansive history within Mesoamerican cultures. This is cochinealscale, which is that white, fuzzy stuff on some cactuses. If you crush it between your fingers, it has a very pretty dark red color that oozes from inside the fuzzy stuff. The cochineal farmers would scrape the insects off the cactus using stiff brushes, then dry them in the sun or ovens before the scales are ground and turned into dye scales. It took 70,000 dried insects to make a pound of dye. This unique red colored textiles, furs, feathers, baskets, and pots. Prickly pear cactus is susceptible to cochineal insects and I have seen this infestation on wild plants here in Florida. An excellent read about it plus some interesting historical information comes from George Rogers, a professor at Palm Beach State College. Use the same control techniques as with cactus bugs. Cochinealscaleoncactus plants Dactylopius coccus This insect is related to mealy bugs. This is a soft scale with fluffy white covering. It may resemble tiny cotton balls all over the pads of your opuntias. Scale insect plays the devil with declared cactus. Inset photo shows a Cochineal-infected segment of Devil's rope cactus being transferred to a healthy plant.
