⚠ Official Notice: www.ijisrt.com is the official website of the International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT) Journal for research paper submission and publication. Please beware of fake or duplicate websites using the IJISRT name.



Evaluation of Lac Productivity Parameters of Lac Insect (Kerria lacca) on Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) Host Tree


Authors : Savita Aditya; B. P. Ktalam

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 3 - March

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/4h7eh6jv

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/yw6xte8v

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26mar657

PlumX Metrics

Semantic Scholar

ResearchGate

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : The present study evaluated the productivity-linked parameters of the kusmi strain of lac insect (Kerria lacca) on Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) host trees during the aghani season of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at farmers’ fields. Initial crawler settlement densities varied from 60.0–95.0 crawlers/cm2 across lower, middle, and upper portions of twigs with maximum mortality observed in the upper portions (10.49–13.39%). The mean duration of male emergence ranged from 11.4–12.3 days, while sex ratio analyses revealed a higher proportion of males in the upper portions of twigs (9.96–12.40%). At crop maturity, female cell densities were highest in the lower portion of twigs (8.40–11.60 cells/cm2 ). Fecundity of individual female cells ranged from 246–342 crawlers, with an overall mean of 294.53 and 312.1 crawlers in 2020–21 and 2021–22, respectively. The average weight of female cells was 13.32–16.48 mg, producing resin output of 6.33–9.67 mg per cell. Female cell longevity averaged 189–190 days. Fresh sticklac weights per 10 twigs ranged from 57.60–60.47 g, while scraped lac ranged from 47.13–49.37g. The mean fresh and dry weights of 100 lac cells were 6.53–7.08 g and 5.77–6.12g, respectively. Total sticklac yield per plant varied between 49.25–54.03 kg. These results highlight that Kusmi lac exhibits consistent productivity under aghani season conditions with lower twigs portion favoring female development and resin production, and upper portions supporting male emergence. The findings provide critical insights into lac insect biology and host interactions, informing improved cultivation strategies and sustainable lac production.

Keywords : Lac insect, Kerria lacca, Productivity Parameters, Lac Host Plant, Kusmi Lac.

References :

  1. Anonymous 1998. Annual report. Indian Lac Research Institute, Ranchi, pp31.
  2. Anonymous 1999. Annual report. Indian Lac Research Institute, Ranchi, pp22.
  3. Borah, N. and Garkoti, S.C. 2020. Indigenous lac culture and local livelihood: a case study of Karbi community of Assam, North-Eastern India. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 19(1), pp 197-207.
  4. Colton, H.S. 1984. The anatomy of the female American lac insect Tachardiella larea. Bulletin Mus. nth. Arizona Flagstaff.21:1 -24.
  5. Divakara, B.N. 2013. Exploration of Lac Cultivation on non-traditional host Flemingia macrophylla (Willd.) Kuntze Ex Merr and its possibility inunderstorey plantations of Dalbergia sisso Roxb. Int. Journal of Forest, Soil and Erosion. 3:129-133.
  6. Ferdousee, N., Julker Nayen, M., Hoque, ATMR & Mohiuddin, M. 2010. Lac production and its economic return to rural economy in Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. Proc. of International Conference on Environmental Aspects of Bangladesh (ICEAB10), Japan, 69-72.
  7. Green, C.L. 1995. Natural colorant and dye stuffs Non wood forest product. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation, Rome, pp: 69-75.
  8. Jaiswal, A. K., Bhattacharya, A., Kumar, M. and Kumar, S. 2006. Effect of ethofenprox, cartap hydrochloride and endosulfan on the incidence of two major parasitoids Aprostocetus purpureus Cameron (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Tachardiaephagus tachardiae Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) on lac crop. journal of Entomological Research, 30(1): 71-73.
  9. Jaiswal, A.K. and Sharma K.K. 2011. Lakh ki kheti- Kab? Kyon? Kaise? (Hindi) Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums. Extension bulletin.Third edition; pp: 1-20.
  10. Janghel, S. 2013. Study on Comparative efficacy of insecticides in the predator management of Katki lac crop in Malhara village, Barghat block, Seoni district, M.P. M. Sc. (Ag.) Thesis, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, pp: 35-60.
  11. Kalahal, C. 2017. Biology and Productivity-linked Parameters of Lac Insect on Pigeonpea and its Natural Enemies. M.Sc. (Ag.) Thesis, JAINKV, Jabalpur; pp: 30.
  12. Kalahal, C., Swami, H. and Lekha. 2017. Productivity-linked parameters of the Rangeeni strain Lac Insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr) on Pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan Linn. at Rajasthan. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 5(3): 1745-1751.
  13. Kong, B. O., Hong, G. J. and Yang, X. C. 1984. Studies on the biology of lac insect, Laccifer lacca (Kerr) TARG. Chinese Academy of Forestry Science. pp: 1-80.
  14. Kumar, A., Kumawat, M.M. and Meena, N.K. 2007. Lac host plants recorded from southern Rajasthan and their relative performance. Entomon.32(2):129-132.
  15. Meshram, Y. K. 2018. Studies on commercial host plants and prevalence of natural enemies of lac insect, kerria lacca kerr. and their management in korba district of chhattisgarh. Ph.D Thesis, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Raipur, pp: 101-104.
  16. Meshram, Y. K., Gupta, R. and Katlam, B. P.,2018. Performance of Different Host Plants of Lac (Kerria Lacca Kerr.) Insect in Korba District of Chhattisgarh. Int J Recent Sci Res. 9(8), pp.28529-28533.
  17. Mishra, Y.D., Sushil, S.N., Bhattacharya, A., Kumar, S., Mallick, A., Sharma, K.K. 1999b. Intra specific variation in host–plants affecting productivity of Indian lac insect, K. lacca (Kerr). J Non-Timber for Prod; 6:114-116.
  18. Mohanta, J., Dey, D.G. and Mohanty, N. 2014. Studies on lac insect (Kerria lacca) for convention of biodiversity in Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, India. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 2(1): 1-5.
  19. Mohanasundaram, A., Monobrullah, M.D., Sharma, K.K., Meena, S.C., Verma, S. and Ramani, R. 2016. Aprostocetus purpureus, a major parasitoid of lndian lac insect, Kerria lacca (Coccoidea: Tachardiidae). Ind. J. of Eco. 43(I): 517-521.
  20. Monobrullah, M.D., Mohanasundaram, A., Meena, S.C., Sweta, V., Sharma, K.K. 2016. Host and location mediated variation in life cycle and biological attributes of Indian lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr.) Indian Journal of ecology; 1:169-172.
  21. Namdev, B.K. 2014. Study on the performance of aghani crop kusmi lac on nutrient managed Zizyphus mauritiana under heavy rainfall condition. M.Sc. (Ag.) Thesis, JNKVV, Jabalpur: 30-39.
  22. Namdev, B. K., Thomas, M., Kurmi, A., Thakur, A. S. and Upadhyaya, A. 2015. Impact of nutrient management of Zizyphus mauritiana (lamb.) On the yield of kusmi lac. The Bioscan; 10(3): 1219-1222.
  23. Ogle, A., Thomas, M. and Tiwari, L. M. 2006. Strategic development of lac in Madhya Pradesh. Final Report, Department for International Development (DFID), MPRLP-TCPSU, India,pp:134.http://s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/mprlp.in/ContentPages/2505012699.pdf
  24. Pal, G. 2009. Impact of scientific lac cultivation training on lac economy- A study in Jharkhand.  Agricultural Economics Research Review,22: 139-143.
  25. Pal, G., Bhagat, M. L. and Bhattacharya, A. 2009. Economics and resource use efficiency of Lac cultivation in Jharkhand. Indian J. For., 32: 95-98.
  26. Pal, G., Jaiswal, A. K. and Bhattacharya, A. 2011. Lac statistics at a glance 2010. Technical Bulletin No. 01/2011, Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums, Ranchi, pp: 1-24.
  27. Patel, B. 2013. Comparative performance of Kusmi and Rangeeni lac on Ber, Zizyphus mauritiana at Kachana village Barghat Block, Seoni district, MP. M.Sc. (Ag.) Thesis submitted in JNKVV, Jabalpur.
  28. Patel, B., Janghel, S. and Thomas, M. 2015. Predator management of two different strains (kusmi and rangeeni lac) of Kerria laca (Kerr.) on Ziziphus mauritiana. The Bioscan, 10(2): 661-666.
  29. Paul, B., Kumar, S. and Das, A. 2013. Lac cultivation & their host trees found in Bastar Forest Division. Plant Science Feed, 3(1): 8-12.
  30. Ramani, R. and Sharma, K. K. 2010. Record of natural infestation of the Indian lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr) (Coccoidea: Tachardiidae) on Acacia tortilis (Forsskal) Hayne and Calliandra surinamensis Benth. Indian Journal of Forestry. 33(2):189-191.
  31. Ramani, R., Sharma,K. K. and Kumar,P. 2008. A new record of occurrence of Indian lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr) (Coccoidea: Tachardiidae) on Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. (Euphorbiaceae). Indian-Journal of- Forestry. Dehra Dun, India. 31(2):283-284.
  32. Rao, A.R. and Singh, P. 1990. Lac cultivation and marketing. Indian Forestry166(6): 459-463.
  33. Saikia, R., Das, P., Hazarika, L.K., Islam, A.N., Kalita, S. and Saikia, P. 2019. Species Composition, Relative Abundance and Diversity of Ants Associated with Lac Insect in Assam. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci. 8(04): 1852-1859.
  34. Singh, J.P., Jaiswal, A.K., Monobrullah, M. and Bhattacharya, A. 2009. Response of some selected insecticides on neuropteran predator (Chrysopa lacciperda) of lac insect (Kerria lacca). Indian J. Agri.Sci.,79(9):727-731.
  35. Sharma, K. 1991. Laboratory rearing of Kerria lacca Kerr on fruit of pumpkin. Current science. 61: 544-545.
  36. Sharma, K.K., Jaiswal, A.K., Bhattachayra, A., Mishra, Y.D. and Sushil, S.N. 1997. Emergence profile and relative abundance of parasitoids association with indian lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr). Indian J.Ecol., Division of Transfer of Technology Indian Lac Research Institute. Namkum. Ranchi. 24(1):17-22.
  37. Sharma, K.K., Kumari, K. and Lakhanpaul, S. 2007. Super parasitism in Indian lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr) and its implication on fecundity and resin producing efficiency of its two strains. Entomon, 32: 33-39.
  38. Sharma, S., Swami, H., Lekha, Bhan, C. and Bairwa, H.L. 2018. Life cycle of lac insect on different hosts. Indian Journal of Applied Entomology 32(1):19- 23.
  39. Swami, H., Lekha, Chhangani G.,Kumawat K., and Vikram (2021). Comparative studies of productivity linked parameters of Lac insect, Kerria lacca on different lac hosts prevailing in Southern Rajasthan. The Pharma Innovation Journal, SP-10(10): 1338-1341.
  40. Sharma, K.K., and Ramani, R.(2015). Lac cultivation on plantations basis a remunerative family farming venture for livelihood generation. Indian Farming, 64(7).
  41. Vajpayee, S., Patidar, R., Kakade, S., Thomas, M., Tripathi, N., Bhowmick, A.K., Gontia, A.K., Kulhare P.S. and Sharma, H.L.2019. Effect of population density of Kerria lacca Kerr. On its growth and survival.  J. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci. 8(12): 912-924.

The present study evaluated the productivity-linked parameters of the kusmi strain of lac insect (Kerria lacca) on Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) host trees during the aghani season of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at farmers’ fields. Initial crawler settlement densities varied from 60.0–95.0 crawlers/cm2 across lower, middle, and upper portions of twigs with maximum mortality observed in the upper portions (10.49–13.39%). The mean duration of male emergence ranged from 11.4–12.3 days, while sex ratio analyses revealed a higher proportion of males in the upper portions of twigs (9.96–12.40%). At crop maturity, female cell densities were highest in the lower portion of twigs (8.40–11.60 cells/cm2 ). Fecundity of individual female cells ranged from 246–342 crawlers, with an overall mean of 294.53 and 312.1 crawlers in 2020–21 and 2021–22, respectively. The average weight of female cells was 13.32–16.48 mg, producing resin output of 6.33–9.67 mg per cell. Female cell longevity averaged 189–190 days. Fresh sticklac weights per 10 twigs ranged from 57.60–60.47 g, while scraped lac ranged from 47.13–49.37g. The mean fresh and dry weights of 100 lac cells were 6.53–7.08 g and 5.77–6.12g, respectively. Total sticklac yield per plant varied between 49.25–54.03 kg. These results highlight that Kusmi lac exhibits consistent productivity under aghani season conditions with lower twigs portion favoring female development and resin production, and upper portions supporting male emergence. The findings provide critical insights into lac insect biology and host interactions, informing improved cultivation strategies and sustainable lac production.

Keywords : Lac insect, Kerria lacca, Productivity Parameters, Lac Host Plant, Kusmi Lac.

Paper Submission Last Date
31 - March - 2026

SUBMIT YOUR PAPER CALL FOR PAPERS
Video Explanation for Published paper

Never miss an update from Papermashup

Get notified about the latest tutorials and downloads.

Subscribe by Email

Get alerts directly into your inbox after each post and stay updated.
Subscribe
OR

Subscribe by RSS

Add our RSS to your feedreader to get regular updates from us.
Subscribe