Record of Host Trees, Predators and Parasitoids of Lac Insect Kerria lacca in Andhra Pradesh

摘要

Lac is a natural resin secreted by an insect Kerria lacca (Kerr.) belongs to the Order, Hemiptera, family Tachardiidae, which thrives on the tender twigs of certain host trees. It feeds upon the phloem sap of the host plants. The first instar larva oflac insect that emerges from mother cell crawls and settles on tender shoots of host trees to feed upon phloem sap by inserting proboscis. After successful penetration of host tissue, the lac insect switches over to sedentary and gregarious habit for rest of its life cycle except crawling male adult. The insect produces three products of commercial importance, the lac resin, wax and dye. The lac is secreted by exocrine lac glands of female insect for protection of the fragile young insect and female insect itself. Lac derived products are biodegradable, non-toxic, and environment friendly and have tremendous export potential. In addition to this, the lac insect-host association contributes to the conservation of biodiversity viz, soil flora, fauna, and soil microorganisms (Sharma et al., 2006). Rangeeni and Kusmi are the two strains of lac insect found in India (Glover, 1937). The host tree constitutes first trophic level, the lac insect itself second and insect-predators, parasitoids inflicting damage to lac insect constitute third level. There are hyper-parasitoids constituting fourth trophic level of lac ecosystem.