Survey record of lac insect Kerria lacca and its host plants in western plains of India

Abstract

Lac produced mainly by Kerria lacca (Kerr), cultivated on palas, ber, kusum and semialata. Establishment of these host plants takes quite long time for starting lac culture. Objectives of present study were to find out the occurrence of lac insect and new or potential host plants of lac insect in this region. Extensive surveys were carried out in Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan during 2015 and 2016. During the survey, lac insect observed in 80 locations and entire population belonged to rangeeni strain only. A total of 21 host plants reported under 14 genera from 6 families. Occurrence of rangeeni lac insect only, indicates the climate suitability to rangeeni strain. However, Acacia auriculiformis Benth, Annona reticulate L., Calliandra calothyrsus Meissn, Ficus religiosa, F. racemosa, F. tsiela Roxb, Peltophorum ferrugineum Heyne, Pithecellobium dulce Benth, Samanea saman Merril, and Z. mauritiana Lam. had good encrustation of lac and has potential to exploit as reservoir or culture of rangeeni lac insect in this region.