Ms. Taylor,
 
I may be totally wrong, but I understand that the cochineal insect (female)
is used to produce a RED dye or stain. (It is still used to produce red-dye
stains for biological research and, I believe, it is/was used extensively to
produce red dye for Persian rugs.)
 
OTOH, the murex is a salt-water mussel, whose shell is/was used to produce a
purple dye.  In ancient times the Phoenicians were the main producers of
murex purple in the Mediterranean area, and their name even derives from the
Greek word [phoinkeos] for purple/red, the shades of which the Greeks
apparently did not distinguish with different words.
 
BYE--FJK
 
 
At 10:16 AM 10/4/97 +0000, Ms. A.J. Taylor wrote:
>Can anyone recommend published references detailing the geographic
>distribution, history and details of use of the cochineal insect in
>the southern Texas and elsewhere in the Spanish Southwest?  I have
>been told that it is the female of the species that produces the
>compound (?) that is needed for making the murex or "Royal Purple"
>dye, and that this substance was a high-ranking export of the
>Spanish government from the colonies.  I know it occurs in southern
>Texas, but am unsure about how extensive its distribution is, or
>whether it might have been artificially introduced into certain
>areas for commercial purposes.
>
>I also would appreciate hearing from anyone who can provide a term
>that denotes the use or production of insect-based products, such as
>the cochineal dye or honey.  I am interested in this information in
>regard to the late prehistoric/protohistoric/early historic
>resources of the southern Texas region for my dissertation research.
>
>Any input would be appreciated.
>
>Ms. A.J. Taylor
>Tempe, Arizona
>
>