Tanya Aguiñiga describes how a conversation with Porfirio Gutiérrez deepened her understanding of cochineal insects. She explains that learning that Gutierrez often observes cochineal giving birth transformed her previous, more symbolic connection to the insect into a more personal and layered one. Aguiñiga reflects on how this insight reshaped her perspective on cochineal, linking it to broader themes of femininity, feminism, and border-related issues.