700 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



Peru. It has spread into other parts of Central and South America 

 and has been introduced into the West Indies, East Indies, Canary 

 Islands, southern Spain, Algeria, and is said to be found in Florida 

 and California. 



The FEMALE INSECT is without wings, about 2 mm. in length 

 and consists of from 9 to 12 segments. It is somewhat globular, 

 becoming later distinctly ovoid. In general appearance, as it 

 creeps over the cactus stems, it is convex on the upper (dorsal) 

 surface, and somewhat flattened or concave below. It is covered 

 with a protective secretion or wax which is formed as a glandular 

 secretion by the " wax pores " Fig. 308, w, and wax hairs. The 

 antennae are rather short, consisting of 8 parts. The thread-like 

 beak or proboscis, forming a sucking apparatus, is very fully devel- 

 oped. There are 3 pairs of legs, which in the commercial article 

 do not show more than 3 joints. Projecting from the posterior 

 portion of the abdomen there are 2 short hairs or bristles, which are 

 also wanting in the commercial article. 



The MALE is more elongated and ellipsoidal in outline and is 

 provided with 2 perfectly transparent wings which reach beyond the 

 extremity of the abdomen and cross each other longitudinally on the 

 back. The head is distinguished from that of the female in being 

 furnished with a rudimentary beak and with 2 long feathery anten- 

 nas. It is said that the male insect is reproduced in large 'numbers; 

 the larvae in the commercial cochineal does not show this to be the 

 'case. Upon performing their functions the male insects die and are 

 blown away. They are therefore not present in the commercial 

 article. 



Life History. The female insect after fecundation grows larger 

 as the young larvae develop, becoming eventually about twice her 

 original size. She meanwhile attaches herself to the surface of the 

 stems of the cacti, her body penetrating into the upper layer of cells. 

 The upper or dorsal surface becomes more or less cartilaginous in 

 structure and more or less convex in shape. The lower surface 

 is drawn toward the upper surface and in this membranous cradle 

 the larvae are developed. It requires about eight days for the larvae 

 to become full grown, when they are said to resemble the parents 

 with the exception that they are covered with a short hairy coating. 

 In another week they attain maturity and the females of the new 

 generation are ready to form broods in their turn. The life history 

 of the cochineal insect is completed in about six weeks, two weeks 

 being required for the development of the mature insect from the 

 egg; during the next two weeks the female crawls over the fleshy 



