El Cochineal

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Student Biography:  El Cochineal  My name is Isabel Bernal-Ramirez, I was born and raised in Santa Maria California, I come from  a family of four and i'm currently the yougest. I enjoy reading all sorts of things, listening to  music,and watching movies. After I graduate I hope to attend a University that I had already  accepted as a Biology major or an Agricultural Sciences major.  I chose the topic of the cochineal bug, a parasitic insect that attaches itself to the prickly cactus. I  selected this topic because I find it extremely interesting how it was once such a widespread and  important commodity in Mexico, but over the years, it has steadily declined and dwindled into  obscurity. Additionally, I chose the cochineal bug because in my family, and throughout my  childhood up until now, the prickly cactus, or Nopal (as I know and refer to it the most), has been  an integral part of our lives. It serves not only as something to consume but also as a  low-maintenance plant that provides abundantly.The cochineal bug has a significant impact on  anyone who decides to plant a prickly cactus. When people start seeing the white substance,  known as the cochineal, on the cactus, they realize that their plant is infected, and the infestation  might spread to other cacti, potentially causing destruction. This situation forces people to feel  the need to either eliminate the bug or get rid of the cactus itself, both of which have negative  impacts not only on the environment but also on the individual.