Summary
A tiny insect called cochineal makes a brilliant red color used in foods and makeup for hundreds of years. Deep Look reveals how a bug's built-in defense became a famous dye.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
Cochineal insects live on cactus and make a bright red chemical that tastes bad to predators -- a defense. People discovered they could gather the insects to make a natural red dye. A trait that protects the bug turned into a color found in candy, drinks, and lipstick.
- Why does the cochineal insect make a bright red chemical?
- How did people turn that defense into a useful dye?
- Where might you find this natural red color today?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: cochineal, defense, dye, trait.
Try it: Check a food or drink label for 'carmine' or 'cochineal.' Write how a bug's defense became a red color we use.