LAC INSECTS: Globally, till date 99 species belonging to nine genera have been reported.
- In India, there are 26 species under two genera, viz. Kerria and Paratachardina
- They secrete a resin, a bio-resource of wide commercial utility.
Scientific Name:
- Kerria lecca (Kerr.) in India
- K. chinensis ( Mahdi.) in Assam and NorthEast India
Family-Tachardiidae
Super family-Coccoidea
Order-Hemiptera
BY-PRODUCTS AND USES of LAC
- Resin (60-90%)
- Dye (2-10%)
- Wax (6%)
Uses:
Food industries, coating of medicinal pills, cosmetics, paints, inks, automobiles, postal departments, electrical industry, chocolate and candy coating, perfumeries, dye for textile industry, slow- release lac coated urea
for controlled release of urea etc.
Adult female:
- Pyriform body, size is about 4-5 mm, reproduction is ovoviviparous. It has three instars i.e. first, second (crawler
stage) and adults. - Female laid 300-600 eggs within its cell.
- The body is divided into head, thorax and abdomen. Head bears a pair of degenerated antennae.
- Eyes are absent. Mouthparts are of piercing and sucking
Crawlers:
- Crawlers shape is ovate, crimson in colour & 0.59 mm in length.
- After first moult, both male and female nymphs lose their appendages, eye and become degenerate.
- Inside their cells, the nymphs cast off their second and third moult and mature into adults.
Adult male:
- The male of K. chinensis undergoes complete metamorphosis. They have usually five instars i.e. first,
second (crawler stage), pre-pupal, pupa and adult. An adult male is 1.2-1.5 mm in length - Head bears reduced eyes and ten segmented antennae.
- Mouth parts are piercing and sucking type; however, it is true for female also.
- Thorax has three pairs of legs.
- The eight-segmented abdomen ends into a short chitinous prominent sheath
- A pair of white elongated filament is present on either side of this sheath.
To see more: http://www.aau.ac.in/data/reports/BENIFICIAL-INSECT-LAC-INSECT.pdf
Original website: http://www.aau.ac.in/
