Cochineal In A Natural Dyes Studio In Oaxaca Mexico

Juana Gutierrez Contreras holding a nopal cactus covered in cochineal insects in her natural dyes studio in the Zapotec village of Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico on 25 November 2018. Cochineal is a parasitic insect native to Mexico which lives on the leaves of the prickly pear plant. When ready to harvest, the insects are gently dusted off and left to dry before being ground to crimson dust. In Teotitlan cochineal is still ground by hand on stone metates and used as a natural dye for yarn

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Copyright: Tessa Bunney
Image Size: 4000x3000 / 994.1KB; Dactylopius coccus Mexico Oaxaca Teotitlan del Valle Tessa Bunney Zapotec cactus cochineal dye natural dyes nopal nopal cactus prickly pear red dye tradition traditional artisan artisanal culture
Contained in galleries: Tessa Bunney - All pics

Juana Gutierrez Contreras holding a nopal cactus covered in cochineal insects in her natural dyes studio in the Zapotec village of Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico on 25 November 2018. Cochineal is a parasitic insect native to Mexico which lives on the leaves of the prickly pear plant. When ready to harvest, the insects are gently dusted off and left to dry before being ground to crimson dust. In Teotitlan cochineal is still ground by hand on stone metates and used as a natural dye for yarn