NHD16/63

A: Nagphana or Nagphani (Snakehood Cactus), ‘Opuntia dillenii’ Haw

B: Cochineal Nopal Cactus, ‘Opuntia cochenillifera’ (L.) P. Mill

C: Indian Fig-Cactus, ‘Opuntia ficus-indica’ (L.) P. Mill

The cochineal dye producing Beetle, ‘Dactylopius coccus’

Original inscriptions: ‘A. Cactus Naagfinnii. Beng. Indica R. / B. Cactus Cochinilifer L. sent from England as the one the’ [indistinct] ‘Insect feeds on / C. Cactus Tuna L from the West Indies and Mauritius. The’ [indistinct] ‘represent the insects on the plant’

[the following inscription refers to the little drawings of the Cochineal Beetle in various stages, and is written in black ink on the back of the folio] ‘d. The Male 6 days old when he has detached himself from the plant and about to be transferred to the Chrysalis’

‘e. The Male Chrysalis’

‘f. the same with the [] back [] protruding’

‘g. the male insect in its perfect state’

‘l, l. two views of the female about 16 days old’

‘m. the outlines of the belly of the same from 30-35 days old in the act of [] Neither the C. Cochinillifer nor C. Tuna afforded any nourishment to the Coccus brought to India.’

‘The insect in Bengal came to maturity the male in 16 days the female in 32 this is about half the time M. Thiery says they do in South America.’

‘a the egg enveloped in its membrane b the same the membrane burst and the insect extricating itself c the belly of the same with the proboscis now a great length the Proboscis h one of the antenna I one of the legs k the back of the abdomen of the Male is opened at []’

‘All magnified’

Further inscriptions:

Artist:

Medium: Watercolour

Size:

Note: