Which is the correct scientific name of the insect source for carminic acid dye?

Which is the correct scientific name of the insect source for carminic acid dye?

• A. Planococcus citri
• B. Coccus hesperidum
• C. Dactylopius opuntiae
• D. Dactylopius coccus

Answer: (D)

Carminic acid dye comes from a cochineal scale insect. The pigment is produced by the insect and concentrated especially in the bodies of the female, and when dried and processed these insects yield the deep red dye used for textiles and foods. The classic commercial source is Dactylopius coccus, the cochineal insect long associated with carmine production. Other scale insects like Planococcus citri and Coccus hesperidum are not used for carmine. There is another cochineal species, Dactylopius opuntiae, but the widely recognized source for traditional carminic acid dye is Dactylopius coccus.

Carminic acid dye comes from a cochineal scale insect. The pigment is produced by the insect and concentrated especially in the bodies of the female, and when dried and processed these insects yield the deep red dye used for textiles and foods. The classic commercial source is Dactylopius coccus, the cochineal insect long associated with carmine production. Other scale insects like Planococcus citri and Coccus hesperidum are not used for carmine. There is another cochineal species, Dactylopius opuntiae, but the widely recognized source for traditional carminic acid dye is Dactylopius coccus.