Polish cochineal

Polish cochineal (Porphyrophora polonica, Margarodes polonicus), also known as Polish carmine scales (Polish: czerwiec polski), is a scale insect formerly used to produce a crimson dye of the same name, colloquially known as "Saint John's blood". The larvae of P. polonica are sessile parasites living on the roots of various herbs – especially those of the perennial knawel (Polish: czerwiec trwały) – growing on the sandy soils of Central Europe and other parts of Eurasia. Before the development of aniline, alizarin, and other synthetic dyes, the insect was of great economic importance, although in the 16th century, its use was in decline after the introduction of cheaper dyes imported from the Americas during the period of great discoveries of the New World by the Spanish and Portuguese explorers and conquistadores. In Europe before the 16 th century, the dye extract from Polish cochineal was one of the main Poland’s export products in antiquity and the Middle Ages until the 16 century when the period of Spanish and Portuguese explorations of the New World, from which the cheaper dyes from Southern America were being imported to Europe. Due extract from Polish cochineal was one of the main Polish export products in antiquity and the Middle Ages and red dyes were historically associated with Poland. White and red are traditional and historical national colours of Poland, Polish royal banners and the Flag of Poland.