Students from Insect Biology (EBIO 4660/5660, taught by Deane Bowers and Tim Szewczyk) lab dyeing silk (produced by caterpillars of the silk moth,聽Bombyxmori) with a dye made from cochineal insects聽(a small white scale insect that feeds on prickly pear cactus).聽聽The dark pink is from the insects alone, and the orange is from the insect extract plus lime juice; changing the pH with acidic lime juice changes the color.聽聽After a short time in the dye bath, the scarves turn these gorgeous colors!聽聽The students used tie-dyeing techniques to decorate their scarves and then got to take them home.聽聽The cochineal insect also occurs here in Colorado on our local prickly pear cactus.
