Cochineal bugs are not all that gross. They are like aphids in that they suck juice from plants, specifically cactus. You can find them as far north as Phoenix where they commonly infest the pads of prickly-pear cactus. You don't see them directly because they spin a white, cottony webbing over themselves, typically around a group of thorns. Also they are so small they are hard to see individually.
Squeeze the cottony stuff between your fingers and it will stain them a purple red and it will not wash off. Before chemical dyes were developed in the 19th century cochineal was the best bright red dye available.
If you can eat a shrimp (cockroach-like, bottom-dwelling, scum suckers) these should not give you the creeps.