a small bright red Mexican insect, Dactylopius coccus. Bodies of the females are used to make the crimson dye and biological stain. They are the natural control for Opuntia cacti, and were introduced to Madagascar at Toliara in 1925 to control the previously introduced prickly pear. Without their own natural predator, they so reduced the cactus (used as food by zebus) that famine followed the drought years of 1931, 1936, 1943, and 1956. The problem was alleviated by development of beetle-resistant strains of cactus which are not self seeding and must be planted.

Alternative form for cochineal : cochineals.