62 THK AMERICAN MONTHLY [Fel.. 



EDITORIAL. 



The Cochineal Insect. — The cochineal insect is a native 

 of Mexico, where it was raised by the Mexican Indians 

 long- before the country w-as discovered by the Spaniards. 

 It is now cultivated in the West India Islands and in some 

 of the Southern States but only in Mexico does it form an 

 article of commerce. 



The insect is raised on the cochineal tree, or nopal, 

 which is a species of cactus. It g-rows freely from cut- 

 ting's, and these are tit to receive insects after eig-hteen 

 months. Into a nest formed of a thread-like substance or 

 of cottony matter, a few females are placed about the first 

 of October. The nests are fastened to the side of the tree 

 facing the rising- sun, and eg-gs are soon layed. As each 

 female produces upwards of a thousand eg-g-s, a large 

 colony is formed. Six generations are produced in a sin- 

 g-le year. 



On first leaving- the egg- the insects are quite lively and 

 run about over the tree. They are so small as to require 

 a mag-nifying g-lass to see them. They are flat, ovular, 

 without wings and with short antennee or horns. The 

 females have a small, short, almost conical beak, placed be- 

 tween the first and second pair of feet, which contains a 

 sucker. It is by means of thissuckerthat they draw forth 

 the juices of leaves and tender stems. 



When the insect has reached the perfect state, it is filled 

 with a multitude of minute eggs. These she lays, then 

 dies, her l)()dv becoming a covering for the egg's until they 

 arc hatched. When this is done the insects worU their 

 way out and commence feeding. After a short time their 

 skins liarden and serve as a cocoon. From this they pass 

 into a chrvsalis state, and soon after apjiear as the perfect 

 insect. 



The cochineal is collected about the first of December. 

 The insects are removed from the trees with a knife or 

 squirrel tail. They are then dried by heat or in the sun. 

 When the cochineal arrives in the market it is in the form 



