胭脂虫（学名：Dactylopius coccus）原产于美洲。雌虫体内含胭脂红酸，可以用来制造绯红（胭脂红）色染料。胭脂虫是哥伦布交换（Columbian Exchange）之一。在地理大发现时代，在哥伦布发现美洲之初，胭脂虫被引入了欧洲。当运送胭脂虫的西班牙商船被英国或德国的海盗劫掠时，对胭脂虫的价值和用处一无所知的海盗们往往会把货物扔进大海。

目前，胭脂虫被使用于布料染色、食品色素和化粧品。

聚集在一起的雌虫

仙人掌属上寄生的胭脂虫

胭脂红

胭脂虫染色过的羊毛

The cochineal (/kɒtʃᵻˈniːl/ koch-i-NEEL or /ˈkɒtʃᵻniːl/ KOCH-i-neel; Dactylopius coccus) is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America as well as Mexico and Arizona, this insect lives on cacti in the genus Opuntia, feeding on plant moisture and nutrients. These insects are found on the pads of prickly pear cacti, then are brushed off and dried.