Cochineal, the parasite that spread color throughout the world

• Next to gold and silver, cochineal powder became the most important export to Spain when the Spaniard came into the New World

Sometimes we forget that there is such an interesting world out there as we hike or ride the trails in our region.  It could be in the Tularosa Basin, over the Sacred Mountain into the Bonito and Hondo river valleys, or anywhere. Sometimes we walk right on by and don’t see the “forest for the trees” or, as in this situation, the cactus that has an amazing story to tell.

One of the contributions from nature to all Native Americans, including the prehistoric Mogollon, was a parasite living on its host plant, the prickly pear. The fiery crimson or scarlet color, much like that of the fruit from the same plant, contained in the belly of this tiny insect, cochineal, when dried and ground into powder,  provided a beautiful and long lasting color.

Boiled in water with urine and the leaf of the sycamore, the colors produced were widely sought after by Spaniard and Indian alike. The plant and its parasite were native to the New World and used extensively by the Aztec, Maya and more sedentary tribes of Mexico and the Southwest.

Next to gold and silver, cochineal powder became the most important export to Spain when the Spaniard came into the New World as conquerors for the Glory of God and the King of Spain.

The Conquistadors found huge leather bags in Aztec storage vaults along with the riches of empires. Other minerals, clay, and insects were ground and used for paint as well, but cochineal was the prize. Several pictographs indicate crimson colors were sometimes utilized and could have come from cochineal powder. Faded after decades or centuries, they still are visible in isolated shelters or caves throughout the New Mexico and Arizona landscape.

In shelters and hidden alcoves along the Bonito near Fort Stanton are masks and other pictographs that appear to have reddish tinges of cochineal. Woven goods or items dyed with cochineal are often expensive and highly valued by collectors. Until the synthetic red dyes came into existence, the Royalty of Europe, the Pope and the famed British Red Coats favored the dye.

Cosmetics and the American Flag also were imbued with this beautiful color. During that time, there was much competition and spies tried to find out what the Spanish secret was to achieve the amazing color, but they were unsuccessful for centuries.

Next time you are out with family or friends, see if you can locate some of the cochineal infested cacti.