Master Naturalists Presents: In Search of a Perfect Red - The Story of how the insect Cochineal and Prickly Pear Cactus Forged a Dyeing Industry

"Master Naturalists Present" is a monthly series featuring presentations from local nature experts of the nonprofit North Texas Master Naturalists.

This month's presenter is Ricky Linex, a wildlife biologist who recently retired from the Natural Resources Conservation Service where he worked for 38 years. Ricky is the author of Range Plants of North Central Texas, A Land User’s Guide to their Identification, Value and Management.  His assistance to landowners and managers involved, mutual education on how to better manage rangelands for sustainable use by livestock and wildlife. Knowing the plants and how to manage them is critical for success as a land steward.  

Join Ricky on May 20th at 11 AM as he looks back through American and foreign history as nations sought to find the greatest red color dye. 500 years ago, Spanish explorers discovered a bright red dye in the markets of the Aztecs in Central America. This dye was made from the scale insect known as cochineal and had been in use as a dye and also as medicine for 1,000 years.  Follow the intrigue as the Spaniards shipped the dried cochineal back to Spain and how other foreign countries fought to obtain the dye.  Cochineal insects depend upon prickly pear cactus for their food and shelter.  Learn about this interesting insect and its relationship with the native Opuntia species, prickly pear. 

This event is online only, through Zoom. Register below to secure your spot.