Natural colorants are utilized to replace synthetic colorants due to their toxic effect on the environment. Cochineal (Dactylopius coccus costa) is an insect applied as staining since colonial time in México. Carminic acid is obtained from its extract and has been used to dye fibers. During this process, a red colored effluent is generated. It's unknown its impact on environment. Therefore is necessary to develop studies to determine its degradability and toxicity. It has been proposed use of ligninolytic fungi to degrade pigments applied to colored effluents. In this study a white rot fungus, Trametes versicolor CDBB-H-1051, was added to an effluent with cochineal extract to determine fungal degradation. Fungus was exposed to different effluent concentrations in a liquid system considering an experimental design. Variables studied were cochineal-extract concentration, pH, dry weight, metabolites presence and degradation. T. versicolor was able to reduce color in the system compare with the control without fungus. This study will establish condition for treatment of textile effluent and increase natural color applications.