Greetings mellow humans. The rain has moved out of the area, today was bright sunshine, with slightly cold air. We got out on the bikes wearing a chest bandana and vests. We went earlier than I would have liked because there was another trip to Safeway (of course) to pickup a prescription. While we were there we bought a chicken which Jim will spatchcock on Thanksgiving.
This is a photo from the web of a prickly pear with cochineal scales.
This is our prickly pear after I tried to remove the material before I knew what it was. See the red smear on the paddle? It looked like it was bleeding.
This is the tooth brush I used. More blood.
From the internet we learn the following. Cochineal scales appear as white, cottony masses on prickly pear cactus and can be controlled by physical removal and insecticidal sprays. First, use a strong stream of water to dislodge the insects and their protective covering. Then, for more persistent pests, apply insecticidal soap or rubbing alcohol to the infected areas.
Carmine red is a vivid, deep red color that has a purplish tint, used in pigments for paints, inks, and cosmetics. It is also a food dye known as E120, made from the crushed bodies of female cochineal insects that live on cacti. The dye is in things like Fruit Loops, Skittles, and other weirdly red food products.
Too much nature! I used the garden hose and was able to remove all of the white downy looking stuff. I suspect this will be ongoing because it's difficult to get all of them. They're not good for the plant, they're sap suckers, there are yellowed areas where they were living.
My canvases arrived. Here we have the entry way wall. The canvas is covering up a picture hanger and nail that was painted over and is now stuck to the wall forever. I don't see it anymore, and am no longer bothered by it.
There was a sunset three days ago.
And finally, there is this.
Despite 47 continuing to insist grocery prices are down, eggs are $7.99 a dozen. That's it! That's all I have.
cochineal is like gold to some- dyers of fabric and rovings and of course, as you mentioned, paint. Weirdo vegans refuse to wear anything dyed using bug blood. I used to claim that I used it to dye my wool , just to weed out the weirdos.
ReplyDeleteWhile watching the news , it was glaring how many suits crowded the screen - all of the damned time. Every story from the manisphere. Thus the sinking of this ship!
Cochineal and fruit loops just about did me in! Did you see the video of trump walking with his grandson? The pigeontoed gait? The stumbling?:Doctors are saying that this is a characteristic of frontal lobe dementia. I am hearing that there are other Republicans who are planning to follow MTG'S departure, the goal being to change the majority and force Mike Johnson out of his job without waiting for the midterms.
ReplyDeleteA short letter in The Guardian newspaper? They do have some good ones.
ReplyDeleteMen in Suits can be a dangerous breed!
Ha! I agree with Henry Stewart!
ReplyDeleteCochineal look a lot like mealybugs -- I wonder if they're related? When I kill mealybugs they turn a sort of rust red, but nowhere near as brilliant crimson as the cochineal.
Another reason not to eat Froot Loops -- as if we needed one!
I read your blog last night and was so tired I couldn't make any sense of it. I just realized why you were talking about red food dye. OMG that's disgusting. I knew it, but it's another thing seeing the bug.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I will never look at a Skittle or a Froot Loop in quite the same way. The latter is a favorite of my grandson. :)
ReplyDeleteEspecially men in suits with long red ties that dangle below their waist.
Ah, the dreaded Cochineal struck your Cacti, that Dye they produce is hard to get out of anything so use Care not to get it on you, but, it's valued as a Dye. I didn't know they put it on our fucking Fruit Loops and Skittles to Color them tho'... Ewww... *LOL*
ReplyDelete