Cochineal Beetle

 Classic

 Expert

 Master

Statistics

Type	Enemy
Environment	Cavern
AI Type	Fighter AI
Damage	20/40›72/60›108
Max Life	40/80›176/120›264
Defense	10/10›20
KB Resist	0%/10%/20%
Banner	Cochineal Beetle Banner
Immune to

Drops

Coins	60Pre-Hardmode: 150Hardmode: 240

• Item (Quantity)Rate
• Red Husk
  100%

Sounds

Hurt
Killed

• Internal NPC ID: 217

The Cochineal Beetle is an enemy that spawns rarely in the Cavern layer. It drops the Red Husk, which can be used to make Red Dye. The first part of its name is pronounced kaa-chuh-neel.

On the  PC version,  Console version,  Mobile version, and  tModLoader version, it is one of the few entities that can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer or its upgrades.

Notes[]

• Despite the Cochineal Beetles' primary purpose being to provide dye crafting material, they can do substantial damage, especially to newer players who mistake them for passive critters.

Trivia[]

• The real-world cochineal is an insect native to South America and Mexico. It is used to create the red dye known as cochineal or carmine, which is mainly used in food and cosmetics. The cochineal is actually a scaled insect, rather than a beetle.

The Bestiary entry for the Cochineal Beetle: "Found in deep, dark caverns, these large beetles are sought out for the deep, blood-red secretions stored in their scaly exoskeleton."

History[]

 PC version

• Desktop 1.4.0.1:
  • Sprite updated.
  • Can now be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.

• Desktop 1.3.0.1: Can now drop its own respective banner.

• Desktop 1.2: Introduced.

 Console version

• Console 1.0.933.1: Can now drop its own respective banner. ()

• Console 1.0.750.0: Can now drop its own respective banner. ()

• Console 1.02: Introduced.

 Nintendo Switch version

• Switch 1.0.711.6: Introduced.

 Mobile version

• Mobile 1.2.6508: Introduced.

Nintendo 3DS version

• 3DS-Release: Introduced, but doesn’t drop the Red Husk.