What is "coccus cacti"

Cochineal \Coch"i*neal\ (k[o^]ch"[i^]*n[=e]l; 277), [Sp. cochinilla, dim. from L. coccineus, coccinus, scarlet, fr. coccum the kermes berry, G. ko`kkos berry, especially the kermes insect, used to dye scarlet, as the cochineal was formerly supposed to be the grain or seed of a plant, and this word was formerly defined to be the grain of the Quercus coccifera; but cf. also Sp. cochinilla wood louse, dim. of cochina sow, akin to F. cochon pig.] A dyestuff consisting of the dried bodies of females of the Coccus cacti, an insect native in Mexico, Central America, etc., and found on several species of cactus, esp. Opuntia cochinellifera.

Note: These insects are gathered from the plant, killed by the application of heat, and exposed to the sun to dry. When dried they resemble small, rough berries or seeds, of a brown or purple color, and form the cochineal of the shops, which is used for making carmine, and also as a red dye.

Note: Cochineal contains as its essential coloring matter carminic acid, a purple red amorphous substance which yields carmine red.

Coccus \Coc"cus\, n.; pl. Cocci. [NL., fr. Gr. ? grain, seed. See Cochineal.]

1. (Bot.) One of the separable carpels of a dry fruit.

2. (Zo["o]l.) A genus of hemipterous insects, including scale insects, and the cochineal insect ( Coccus cacti).

3. (Biol.) A form of bacteria, shaped like a globule.

1. redirect cochineal