Difference between revisions of "Cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) LC"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
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The cochineal is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. Cochineal lives on catcti in the genus Opuntia. Cochineal is native to tropical and subtropical South America as well as Mexico and Arizona. These insects are brushed off and dried for storage.
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The insect produces carminic acid that deters predation by other insects. Carminic acid, typically 17-24% of dried insects' weight, can be extracted, then mixed with aluminium or calcium salts to make carmine dye.
  
 
== Historical importance ==
 
== Historical importance ==

Revision as of 09:59, 18 September 2017

dried cochineal insects photo by X. Zhang

Description

The cochineal is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. Cochineal lives on catcti in the genus Opuntia. Cochineal is native to tropical and subtropical South America as well as Mexico and Arizona. These insects are brushed off and dried for storage.

The insect produces carminic acid that deters predation by other insects. Carminic acid, typically 17-24% of dried insects' weight, can be extracted, then mixed with aluminium or calcium salts to make carmine dye.

Historical importance

Summary of results

Analytical instrumentation and procedures

Chromatograms

Absorbance at 350nm (mAU)


Sample information

File:.JPG
sample information, By R. A. Laursen, Boston University

Identified compounds

Carminic acid UV

Carminic acid UV.PNG


Compound RT (min.) MW UV/vis Other
carminic acid xx0 xx xx Comments here
x x x x
x x x x
x x x x

References

[1] [2] [3]