Carminic acid
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Carminic acid is a red glucosidal hydroxyanthrapurin that occurs naturally in some scale insects, such as the cochineal, Armenian cochineal, and Polish cochineal. The insects produce the acid as a det
Female Dactylopius coccus on prickly pear cactus photographed by Frank Vincentz.
Carminic acid released as the red substance seen on the person's hand after crushing Dactylopius coccus - by Dick Culbert.
Female (left) and male (right) cochineals
Biosynthesis of carminic acid
Armenian cochineal
Videos
The Armenian cochineal, also known as the Ararat cochineal or Ararat scale, is a scale insect indigenous to the Ararat plain and Aras River valley in the Armenian Highlands, including eastern Turkey.
Carminic acid
…Carminic acid (C22H20O13) is a red glucosidal hydroxyanthrapurin that occurs naturally in some scale insects, such as the cochineal, Armenian cochineal, and Polish cochineal. The insects produce the acid as a deterrent to predators. An aluminum salt of carminic acid is the coloring agent in carmine, a…
Porphyrophora hamelii, female
Porphyrophora hamelii, male
Vordan karmir ceiling art at Noravank Monastery
Khachkars (cross-stones) at Geghard Monastery painted with vordan karmir