Dactylopius Confertus

''Dactylopius'' is a genus of insect in the superfamily Coccoidea, the scale insects. It is the only genus in the family Dactylopiidae.Van Dam, A. R. and B. May. (2012)
A new species of ''Dactylopius'' Costa (''Dactylopius gracilipilus'' sp. nov.) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Dactylopiidae) from the Chihuahuan Desert, Texas, U.S.A.
''Zootaxa'' 3573: 33–39. These insects are known commonly as cochineals,Ramírez-Puebla, S. T., et al. (2010)
Molecular phylogeny of the genus ''Dactylopius'' (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) and identification of the symbiotic bacteria.
''Environmental Entomology'' 39(4), 1178-83.Chávez-Moreno, C. K., et al. (2011)
Distribution and habitat in Mexico of ''Dactylopius'' Costa (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) and their cacti hosts (Cactaceae: Opuntioideae).
''Neotropical Entomology'' 40(1), 62-71. a name that also specifically refers to the best-known species, the cochineal (''Dactylopius coccus''). The cochineal is an insect of economic and historical importance as a main source of the red dye carmine. It has reportedly been used for this purpose in the Americas since the 10th century. Genus ''Dactylopius'' is also important because several species have been used as agents of biological pest control, and because several are known as invasive species.

Description

In general, cochineals are waxy gray scaled insects, with the key characteristic that adult females release the bright red substance when crushedFamily:Dactylopiidae.
Scale Insects. Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA, ARS. known as carminic acid. Most species belonging to this genus are covered in thin, sticky strands of wax; ''D. coccus'' is one such species which lacks these traits. Common with the characteristics of most scaled insects, the species within this genus too show sexual dimorphism between male and female individuals. Where females of the genus possess a simple morphology (standard body, with a head, mouth, legs, etc.), though lacking wings of any kind; the males of the genus are the opposite, possessing a singular set of wings, and no mouth at all. (See '' D. coccus'' for example.)

Biology

Cochineals live on cactus plants, especially prickly pears (''Opuntia'' spp.), as well as ''Cylindropuntia'' and ''Grusonia'' species. One species was collected from ''Corynopuntia schottii''. They gather in large clumps mainly in shady, sheltered areas on the cactus pads and feed on the sap. Some species also infest the cactus fruits, flowers, stems, and roots; they are often found on the roots during times of the year when they are less active. Females have three developmental stages ( instars), and males have five. They reproduce continuously year-round, with up to six generations per year. Eggs hatch very soon after they are laid, sometimes within minutes, and probably even occasionally while they are still inside the female. ''D. tomentosus'' carries its eggs on its body in a mesh of fibers. The wax filaments are produced from setae on the juvenile insect's head. These webby filaments likely aid in dispersal of the insects by catching the wind.Mow, V., et al. (1982)
Wind dispersal and settling of first-instar crawlers of the cochineal insect ''Dactylopius austrinus'' (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Dactylopiidae).
''Ecological Entomology'' 7(4), 409-19.

''Dactylopius'' species can be found on cacti in many types of dry habitat, including forests, grasslands, cultivated fields, disturbed and weedy areas, and gardens. They share cactus host plants with various ants, spiders, the larva of the snout moth ''Laetilia coccidivora'', a brown lacewing ('' Symherobius'' sp.), and lady beetles in the genera ''Chilocorus'' and '' Hyperaspis''.

Distribution

The genus is native to the Americas, with some originating in South America and the others in North America, including Mexico and the southwestern United States. ''D. coccus'' apparently has a disjunct distribution today, occurring in Mexico and also in Peru, but not in the region between. Molecular phylogenetic studies of the genus suggest that ''D. coccus'' originated in South America and was introduced to Mexico with various agricultural products during the Pre-Columbian era.Rodríguez, L. C., et al. (2001)
Direction of dispersion of cochineal (''Dactylopius coccus'' Costa) within the Americas.
''Antiquity'' 75, 73-77.

The genus is now distributed throughout much of the world due to accidental and intentional introductions.

Cochineal dye

The insects produce carminic acid as an antipredator adaptation. It is processed to produce the pigment carmine, which has long been used as a red food coloring and a natural dye for textiles. ''Dactylopius coccus'', the true cochineal, is the species most commonly used today and historically, because it has a higher carminic acid content and yields a better quality pigment than its congeners. The insect has been domesticated and is reared for its product.

Cochineals were of value to the pre-Columbian societies of the Andes region. Rulers of the Inca Empire stored supplies of the insects as a commodity, as they were the only source of red dye for clothing and other textiles.Roquero, A
Identification of red dyes in textiles from the Andean Region.
Paper 129 In: Proceedings, Textile Society of America 11th Biennial Symposium, Lincoln, Nebraska, October 6–9, 2010. Red was the color of royalty among the Incas.Phipps, E. and N. Shibayama
Tracing cochineal through the collection of the Metropolitan Museum.
Paper 44 In: Proceedings, Textile Society of America 12th Biennial Symposium, Honolulu, September 4–7, 2008. After Spanish colonization of the Americas began, cochineals were shipped worldwide as a commercial product.

The dried bodies of the female insects are roughly 12 to 16% carminic acid.Reyes-Salas, O., et al. (2011)
Titrimetric and polarographic determination of carminic acid and its quantification in cochineal (''Dactylopius coccus'') extracts.
''Journal of the Mexican Chemical Society'' 55(2), 88-93. The carmine obtained is a shade of crimson, and this can be turned different shades by adding metal ions or changing the pH; tin salts or acids produce a bright scarlet, while iron or alkaline compounds turn it a deep purple. The Salasacas of Ecuador still use this process to color their textiles, particularly a red woolen garment worn by women around the shoulders, which each woman personalizes by choosing a different shade of red. They collect cochineals, probably ''D. confusus'', from the wild, press them into cakes, and use the dried cakes to dye the garments three at a time. One is left crimson, one is soaked in lemon juice to turn it scarlet, and the third is rubbed with wood ashes to turn it purple.

Biological control

Some cacti are invasive plants, and as parasites of cacti, ''Dactylopius'' species have been employed as agents of biological pest control in Africa and Australia. The first example of an herbivorous insect ever used for the biological control of a weed was ''D. ceylonicus'', which was released onto '' Opuntia ficus-indica'', then known as ''O. vulgaris'', in Sri Lanka in 1863.Volchansky, C. R., et al. (1999)
Host-plant affinities of two biotypes of ''Dactylopius opuntiae'' (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae): enhanced prospects for biological control of ''Opuntia stricta'' (Cactaceae) in South Africa.
''Journal of Applied Ecology'' 36(1), 85-91. ''D. opuntiae'' has been effective against the weedy prickly pear '' Opuntia stricta'', and ''D. austrinus'' is used to control '' Opuntia aurantiaca''.

As a pest

''O. ficus-indica'' is a cactus cultivated as a food crop, and it is the most commonly noted host plant of ''Dactylopius'' species. ''D. coccus'' can be found in fields of the cultivated plant and on specimens in the wild. ''D. opuntiae'' is an economically important pest of this cactus in many regions. Vanegas-Rico, J. M., et al. (2010)
Enemigos naturales de ''Dactylopius opuntiae'' (Cockerell) en ''Opuntia ficus-indica'' (L.) Miller en el centro de México.
''Acta Zoológica Mexicana'' 26(2), 415-33.

Diversity

This genus is monophyletic. There are eleven species. In addition to the nine that long composed the genus, ''D. bassi'' was transferred from genus '' Coccus'' in 2001 and ''D. gracilipilus'' was newly described in 2012.

Species include:

*'' Dactylopius austrinus''
*''Dactylopius bassi''
*''Dactylopius ceylonicus''
*'' Dactylopius coccus'' – true cochineal
*'' Dactylopius confertus''
*'' Dactylopius confusus''
*''Dactylopius gracilipilus''
*''Dactylopius opuntiae''
*''Dactylopius salmianus''
*''Dactylopius tomentosus''
*''Dactylopius zimmermanni''

References

Further reading

*Chávez Moreno, C. K
The ''Opuntia'' (Cactaceae) and ''Dactylopius'' (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) in Mexico: a historical perspective of use, interaction and distribution with particular emphasis on chemical and phylogenetic aspects of the ''Dactylopius'' species.
VII International Congress on Cactus & Cochineal, Agadir, Morocco, October 22, 2010.

{{Taxonbar, from=Q677616

Hemiptera of South America
Dactylopiidae
Sternorrhyncha genera
Taxa named by Achille Costa