Meet the bugs we smoosh to make natural red dye

[Kimmo]

@stephen_schenck

I think you and I have very different definitions of “microscopic,” Maggie. It’s not just “tiny,” but so tiny you need a microscope.

I can see things half-a-centimeter long with my bare eyes, just fine.

I can see detail as small as about 0.05mm : p

Let’s say we’re seeing down to about a millimetre - and below that is the range measured in millionths of a metre, AKA micrometres… so that too, huh.

You don’t hear anyone bandying around ‘picoscopic’ or ‘nanoscopic’, but that’s only because you can’t buy anything called a picoscope or nanoscope… yet.

@SmillaSnow

I’ve ground cochineal up with a mortal and pestle

How did the mortal fare?

[edoconnor]

Is this the stuff that provides the red color of Campari?

[PhasmaFelis]

Thanks for this. I was curious.

“Now you know what those bugs look like,” says the article. No, I don’t! You showed me a cocoon and a powder, but not an actual bug!