Caption: Stalk eyed Fly, Credit: Dino Martins
Image by: Dino Martins 
Stalk eyed Fly 

Discovering lipstick bugs in Africa

From: Paula Kahumbu
Length: 00:02:31

Paula Kahumbu finds a cochineal bug on a cactus and asks entomologist Dino Martins about it. This field recording reveals that this unattractive insect is the source of red dye used in dying cotton, food dye and lipstic. Recorded on location in the wilds of Kitengela near Nairobi in Kenya Read the full description.

Stalk-eyed-flylr1_small Paula Kahumbu the Executive Director of WildlifeDirect in Kenya interviews insect genius Dino Martins about a cochineal bug found on a cactus plant that seems to be suffering. Dino explains that this ball of white fluff is in fact a bug that comprises a mouth part and a sack of eggs. He squishes the bug to reveal the beautiful red dye used in lipstick, cloth and food colouring.  This is just one of the field adventures of Dino Martins and Paula. Dino writes an insect blog called Dudu Diaries on WildlfeDirect.org

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Piece Description

Paula Kahumbu the Executive Director of WildlifeDirect in Kenya interviews insect genius Dino Martins about a cochineal bug found on a cactus plant that seems to be suffering. Dino explains that this ball of white fluff is in fact a bug that comprises a mouth part and a sack of eggs. He squishes the bug to reveal the beautiful red dye used in lipstick, cloth and food colouring.  This is just one of the field adventures of Dino Martins and Paula. Dino writes an insect blog called Dudu Diaries on WildlfeDirect.org

Related Website

http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org