Effect of mating on ovary maturation in Dactylopius coccus (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Dactylopiidae).

The cochineal Dactylopius coccus is an industrially-important insect used to extract carminic acid (a red dye). The effect of mating on the maturation of its ovaries was determined. In order to do this, three-month old mated and virgin females were used which were counted from Opuntia ficus indica c...