The red pigment in cochineal dye is derived from which insect body structures?

• A. Cochineal beetles
• B. Cocoons of silkworms
• C. Cochineal scales
• D. Moth scales

Answer: (C)

The red pigment in cochineal dye comes from carminic acid produced and stored in the bodies of the female cochineal insect, a scale insect that lives on cactus. The dye is obtained by crushing dried insects and extracting the pigment from their tissues, so the pigment is directly tied to the insect’s body. That’s why the option referring to cochineal scales fits best—cochineal insects are scale insects, and the pigment comes from their bodies. The other choices miss the source: beetles aren’t used for cochineal pigment, silk cocoons come from silkworms for silk, and moth scales are just the wing scales of moths, not sources of cochineal pigment.