See

discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280938855

LAC PRODUCTION, CONSTRAINTS AND

MANAGEMENT

Article in International Journal of Current Research · March 2015

CITATIONS READS

0 208

3 authors, including:

Tahir Hussain Shah Moni Thomas

Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya
5 PUBLICATIONS 1 CITATION 14 PUBLICATIONS 1 CITATION

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

i.Performance of Kerria lacca on tall and long duration varieties of Cajanus cajan View
project

All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, Available from: Tahir Hussain Shah
letting you access and read them immediately. Retrieved on: 10 November 2016
 z

Available online at http://www.journalcra.com

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
OF CURRENT RESEARCH
International Journal of Current Research
Vol. 7, Issue, 03, pp.13652-13659, March, 2015

ISSN: 0975-833X REVIEW ARTICLE

LAC PRODUCTION, CONSTRAINTS AND MANAGEMENT-

MANAGEMENT A REVIEW
*,1Tahir Hussain Shah, 2Moni Thomas and 3Rita Bhandari
1Department of Zoology and Biotechnology, Government Model Science College (Autonomous) Jabalpur,
M.P. India
2Consultancy Processing Cell, Directorate of Research Services, Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University,

Jabalpur, M.P. India

3Department of Zoology and Biotechnology, Government Model Science College ege (Autonomous) Jabalpur,
M.P. India

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article History: Lac- a natural resin of wide industrial applications, is a secretion of Lac insect Kerria lacca Kerr
Received 08th December, 2014 belonging to the family Tachardiidae (Kerriidae) and order Hemiptera. Lac consists of resin, wax and
Received in revised form dye, thus has a wide range of applications in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, perfumes, varnishes,
14th January, 2015 paints, polishes, adhesives, jewellery and textile
textile dyes, since ancient times. India is the largest
Accepted 23rd February, 2015 producer of Lac in the world with a production of 20,000 tons and 75 per cent of it is exported. Lac
Published online 31st March, 2015 sector has a socio-economic
socio importance as it employs 3-44 million people mostly forest dependant and
tribals.
ls. Lac production promotes biodiversity and conserves host plants. Lac crop being vulnerable to
Key words: both biotic and abiotic factors results in lowering of the yield. The present review of the work is to
Lac, Predators, help understand earlier work done to generate information
information to increase the production.
Management,
Rangeeni, Kusmi.

Copyright © 2015 Tahir Hussain Shah et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
cited

INTRODUCTION
factors. The annual national lac production declined from
20,050 tons in 2003-04 04 (Pal et al., 2009) to 16,495 tons in
Lac- a natural resin of wide industrial applications, is a
2009- 10 (Pal et al.,., 2011). Since the lac insect spends only few
secretion of Lac insect Kerria lacca Kerr belonging to the
hours of active mobility and thereafter spends a complete
family Tachardiidae (Kerriidae) and order Hemiptera. Lac
sedentary life,, they are prone to be attacked by many insect
consists of resin, wax and dye, thus has a wide range of
pests causing considerable loss to the lac crop. The average
applications in food, pharmaceuticals,
armaceuticals, cosmetics, perfumes,
loss by the insect pests in lac culture is known to be far greater
varnishes, paints, polishes, adhesives, jewellery and textile
than what is usually witnessed in other agricultural crops. The
dyes, since ancient times. Lac is a cash crop of commercial
loss caused to lacc crop by the insect predators amounts to about
importance providing an importance source of livelihood to
35-45 % annually. Keeping in view the severity of damage
millions of resource poor grower inhabiting ting tribal dominated
caused, the present review of the work is conducted to help
forests and sub-forests
forests regions of the country. The agricultural
understand earlier work done to generate information to
production continues to be constrained by a variety of biotic
increase the production.
(e.g., pathogens, insects and weeds) and abiotic (e.g., drought,
salinity, cold, frost and water-logging)
logging) factors
f that can
significantly reduce the quantity and quality of crop production Lac insect
(Wang et al.,., 2013). Abiotic stress factors such as heat, cold,
Lac is one of the most valuable gifts of nature to man, the only
drought, salinity, and nutrient stress have a huge impact on
resin of animal origin secreted by a tiny scale insect, K. lacca
world agriculture, as they reduce average yields by b more than
belonging to the family Tachardiidae (Kerriidae), superfamily
50 per cent for most major crop plants (Wang et al., 2003).
Coccoidea of the order Hemiptera ((Pal, 2009; Mohanta et al.,
Analysis of lac production trends in India during past few years
2012).
). Family Kerridae consists of nine genera, while the
showed a decline in production which is attributed to the biotic
number of species reported vary from 87 ((Sharma and Ramani,
stress as well as climatic patterns unfavorable for lac
la crop. The
1999), 90 (Varshney, 2009)) to 100 species ((Ben-Dov and Lit,
production of the lac is greatly affected by abiotic stress
). Two generas are found in India, while genus Kerria is
1998).
*Corresponding author: Tahir Hussain Shah,
commercially important as it has 19 species of industrial
Department of Zoology and Biotechnology, Govt. Model Science importance (Sharma
Sharma and Ramani, 1999
1999).
College (Autonomous) Jabalpur, M.P.
13653 Tahir Hussain Shah et al. Lac production, constraints and management- A review

K. lacca, the most important and widely exploited insect for lac Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal,
cultivation in India is represented by two strains or infra sub- Maharashtra, besides a few others (Pal et al., 2011). The
specific forms, the Rangeeni and Kusmi strain, which differ by various lac host plants in China are Dalbergia szemaoensis, D.
host preference, life cycle pattern, the quality and amount of obtusifolia, Ficus altissima and F. racemosa (Chen et al.,
lac produced (Kapur, 1962; Ramani, 2005). The Kusmi strain is 2010) while Z. mauritiana, Samanea saman, B. monosperma,
grown on Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) while Rangeeni strain Acacia nilotica and A. catechu are the major lac host plants in
thrives on hosts other than Kusum (Sharma et al., 2006; Bangladesh (Ferdousee et al., 2010).
Mohanta et al., 2012). In case of Kusmi strain, two crops are-
Jethwi (harvested in June/July) and Aghani (in Lac production
January/February) while in case of Rangeeni, two crops are-
Katki (harvested in October/November) and Baishakhi (in Lac makes a significant contribution to the foreign exchange
May/June) (Chattopadhyay, 2011). The term lac seems to have earnings of the country. The most important role that Lac plays
been derived from the Sanskrit word Laksha meaning a in the economic upliftment of a country is that roughly 3 to 4
hundred thousand (Ogle et al., 2006) and is suggestive of the million tribal people (Kumar, 2002), who constitute the socio-
large number of insects involved in its production. The economically weakest link of Indian population, earn a
description of the lac insect and its host plant– Butea subsidiary income from its cultivation (Chattopadhyay, 2011).
monosperma (Lakshataru) is recorded in the Atharva Veda. It Lac cultivation has a potential for generating employment for
is also mentioned in the Mahabharata that Kauravas built the both men and women. Lac cultivation is being carried by all
highly inflammable lakhshagriha or Jadugriha (Lac house) types of farmers i.e. marginal, small farmers and big farmers
with a motive of physically eliminating Pandavas by setting (Pal, 2009). During the year 2004-05, India earned a foreign
the Lac palace on fire (Chattopadhyay, 2011). K. lacca exchange to the tune of Rs 165 crores from Lac (Pal et al.,
completes its life cycle in four stages viz., egg, larva, pupa and 2009).Lac production is confined to a few south, southeast and
adult. After mating, a female lac insect lay about 300-1000 east Asian countries in the tropical forest region (Ramani et al.,
fully developed eggs in her cell within the lac encrustation. 2007) while India is the leading lac producer, with an annual
Depending upon the physical conditions, emergence of larvae production of over 20,000 tons (Sharma et al., 2006; Ogle et
from the eggs takes place within a few hours from its laying. al., 2006; Pal et al., 2009, 2011) and 75 per cent of it is
Crimson coloured larvae settling on the succulent twigs feed exported to over hundred countries mainly in processed and
sap and moults thrice before pupation. The adult male lac semi-processed forms. The current production of lac in
insect lives for 3-4 days while the female lac insects lives Bangladesh is around 700 tons per year (Mustafa, 2002). The
longer and secretes lac and thus plays a major role in the Yunnan Province, located in the southwest of China, is the
production of Lac (Ogle et al., 2006). major lac producing area of the China (Chen and Yao, 2007)
with a lac production of 3000 tons per year (Chen et al., 2010).
Distribution of Lac insect The lac production in India is mainly restricted to the states of
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal,
Lac insects are restricted to tropical and sub-tropical regions of Maharashtra, Orissa, besides a few others (Sharma et al., 2006;
the world, between the latitudes 40° N and 40° S in its Pal et al., 2011). Chhattisgarh state ranks first in the production
distribution (Kapur, 1962). Only species belonging to the genus of lac in India followed by Jharkhand (Khobragade et al.,
Kerria produce true lac. The commercially important lac insect 2012). Madhya Pradesh is the third largest producer of lac in
species in various lac producing countries are different the country.
according to the local environment. K. lacca, represented by
two infra-sub specific forms, viz., Kusmi and Rangeeni, is the The total production of lac in Madhya Pradesh was 6500 mt
commercial lac insect species in India (Kapur, 1962; Ramani, during (2008-09) (Thomas, 2010). Jharkhand contributes
2005) while it is Kerria chinensis in Thailand (Chen, 2005), K. around 39 per cent (Bharat, 2010) while West Bengal
yunnanensis in China (Chen et al., 1992) and K. pusana and K. contributes nearly 7.5 per cent of total lac produced in India
nepalensis in Myanmar. However in Myanmar, K. pusana is (Middya, 2010). The major lac producing districts in Madhya
widely promoted by the lac industry (Chen et al., 2011). The Pradesh are Balaghat, Seoni, Mandla, Chhindwara, Dindori,
wild populations of Kerria are distributed throughout the Narsingpur and Hoshangabad and they contribute about 80 per
length and breadth of India, except in the colder regions cent of the lac produced in the state (Thomas, 2010). The major
(Varshney, 1977). lac producing districts of the West Bengal are Purulia,
Bankura, West Medinipur, Malda and Murshidabad districts
Lac hosts (Middya, 2010) while Ranchi, Simdega, Gumla, West
Singhbhum, Palamau, Garhwa and Latehar are the major lac
Lac insects are plant sap feeders (Sharma et al., 2006; Singh et producing districts of Jharkhand (Bharat, 2010).
al., 2009) therefore thrive well only on certain plant species
known as lac hosts. More than 400 lac hosts have been Constraints in lac production
observed throughout the world (Kapur, 1962; Varshney and
Teotia, 1968; Varshney, 1968, 1985; Sharma et al., 1997). Lac crop is vulnerable to both biotic and abiotic stress
Palash (B. monosperma), Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana) and (Nicholson, 1925; Sharma et al., 1997; Bhagat and Mishra,
Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) are the most common hosts 2002; Jaiswal et al., 2008). Agro-ecosystem environment is
commercial for lac production in India (Roonwal, 1962; Pal, largely governed by interactions between abiotic and biotic
2009; Mohanta et al., 2012), which are found in states of components. The abiotic stress factors alter the effects of biotic
13654 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 7, Issue, 03, pp.13652-13659, March, 2015

stresses and are most harmful when occur in combination Biotic constraints
(Mittler, 2006), greatly influencing crop growth and
productivity to the extent of 80 per cent (Oerke et al., 1994; The lac insect during its life cycle spends only few hours of
Thielert, 2006). active mobility and thereafter spends a complete sedentary life
and hence they are prone to be attacked by many insect
Abiotic constraints predators and parasitoids, causing substantial damage to the lac
crop qualitatively and quantitatively (Singh et al., 2011a). The
Lac insect agro-ecosystems have been highlighted for their biotic factors affecting lac insects include vertebrates,
conservation potential, but management to intensify lac invertebrates and microbial fauna (Shaoji, 1993; Sharma et al.,
production is reported to reduce biodiversity and may restrict 2001, 2006). The vertebrates enemies include squirrels and rats
ecosystem services (Chen et al., 2008). The Indian climate has (Thomas, 2004) and rats. The invertebrates enemies of lac
undergone significant changes showing increasing trends in insects are of two types viz., parasites and predators (Sharma
annual temperature with an average of 0.560C rise over last 100 et al., 1997). Twenty-two species of lac insect predators, 30
years (IPCC., 2007; Rao et al., 2009; Anonymous, 2010). The species of primary parasites, 45 species of secondary parasites
rainfed zone of the country publicized significant negative (Das, 1990) and several fungal pathogens of lac insects as well
trends in annual rainfall (De and Mukhopadhyay, 1998; Lal, as lac hosts besides several other fungal pathogens represent a
2003; Rao et al., 2009) while the semi arid regions of the rich biodiversity of lac ecosystem (Sharma et al., 2006).
country had maximum possibility of prevalence of droughts of
varying magnitudes (20-30%), leading to sharp decline in water Predators
tables and crop failures (Lal, 2003; Samra, 2003; Rao et al.,
2009). This is a worrying factor as most of the lac producing The sporadic neuropteran predator Chrysopa spp, are the most
areas fall in the semi arid zones in the country. Environmental ubiquitous predators in the lac ecosystems causing considerable
stress is a factor that reduces plant performance below that loss, especially in the winter crops of Kusmi lac. A severe
achieved under optimal conditions (Price, 1991). All plants infestation by Chrysopa spp may lead to the loss of whole
encounter stress, because optimal conditions are rarely winter season crop if not managed properly (Singh et al.,
encountered in the field due to variations or fluctuations in 2011b). The first, second and third instar larvae of Chrysopa
environmental conditions. Several morphological and madestes can consume 20, 24 and 74 mature females of lac
physiological changes may occur in plants under stress insect per day, respectively (Mehra, 1965, 1966) in another
(Mattson and Haack, 1987). Under moisture stress, many plants study reported another species of neuropteran predator on lac
show reduced leaf water, starch and carbohydrates and crop, C. lacciperda whose average durations of first, second
increased leaf nitrogen and soluble sugars (Miles et al., 1982; and third larvae instars were 3.8, 3.2 and 7.3 days, respectively.
Mattson and Haack, 1987; English-Loeb et al., 1997). In The first instar larvae of Chrysoperla zastrowi arabica, a new
contrast, low light levels can lead to reduced soluble sugars and neuropteran predator reported by (Singh et al., 2011a) attack
increased leaf nitrogen and leaf water (Collinge and Louda, Kusmi lac culture soon after settlement of lac insect on tender
1988; Attridge, 1990; Potter, 1992). shoots of S. oleosa host trees. About 150-200 adults of C.
zastrowi arabica per S. oleosa tree were recorded on summer
The morphological and physiological changes that occur in season Kusmi lac crop. The predation potential of this pest is
plants under stress may affect the performance of insect very high with the larva feeding on 160-195 and 425-485 lac
herbivores feeding on those plants (Mattson and Haack, 1987) insects during second and third instar stages, respectively
but White (1969, 1993) suggested that plants under stress before pupation. Two lepidopteran predators Eublemma
become more susceptible to insect herbivores, with the increase ambilis and Pseudohypatopa pulverea cause 30-40 per cent
in insect performance driven by increases in leaf soluble damage to lac crop (Glover, 1937; Mishra, 2002; Jaiswal et al.,
nitrogen. The production of lac is greatly influenced by the 2008; Singh et al., 2009). Narayanan (1962) reported E.
climatogical factors, like temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind amabilis as a monophagous predator of lac insects, causing
etc, (Nicholson, 1925; Bhagat and Mishra, 2002). The damage to the tune of 20 to 25 per cent to lac crop. Malhotra
temperature is the most important climatogical factor affecting and Katiyar (1975) too reported E. amabilis and P. pulverea as
lac culture (Mishra et al., 1999a, b; Bhagat and Mishra, 2002; major pest normally causing 30 to 35 per cent damage to lac
Sharma, 2007; Thomas, 2010). The annual national lac crop. The larvae of E. amabilis after hatching from the eggs on
production declined from 20,050 tons in 2003-04 (Pal et al., the surface of the lac colonies, lead a cryptic mode of life by
2009) to 16,495 tons in 2009- 10 (Pal et al., 2011) due to high burrowing and tunneling within the lac encrustation feeding
summer temperatures. Meteorological factors play an important exclusively on lac insects. This predator undergoes three
role in the population fluctuation of sucking insect pests (Gogoi overlapping generations in both summer and rainy season lac
and Dutta, 2000; Murugan and Uthamasamy, 2001; Panickar crop and moults ten times before pupating. Rahman et al.
and Patel, 2001). High rainfall during the month of July (2009) reported that the moth E. amabilis is very destructive to
influences lac insect settlement (Patel et al., 1997). Changes in lac insect and lac encrustation. The moth is generally white-
rainfall patterns, frequent droughts and floods, increased pinkish in colour and it lays grey-white and round eggs,
intensity and frequency of cold waves, outbreaks of insect pests depressed in the centre. The newly hatched larva enters the lac
and diseases area affecting profoundly many biological systems insect either through one of the opening in the cell or by
(IPCC., 2007) and lac sub-sector is also equally affected. tunneling a hole through the encrustation. A single larva
damages 42-50 mature lac cells prior to pupation and causes
more injury to the Kartki crop than to the Baishakhi crop.
13655 Tahir Hussain Shah et al. Lac production, constraints and management- A review

Parasitoids contributor of lac production in India. High summer

temperature and prolonged leaf loss of Z. mauritiana from
Sharma et al. (2007) studied superparasitism in K. lacca and its February to April is severely affecting the Baishakhi crop in
implications on fecundity and resin producing efficiency of its the country. Z. mauritiana also being a host of Kusmi strain of
two strains. The parasitoids of lac insect cause severe damage K. lacca offers an opportunity to overcome the impact of
to the crop affecting adversely the resin yield and the fecundity climate change on lac production in the country.
of the insects, particularly during rainy seasons. The average
reduction in resin produced by a single female due to Management of biotic agents
parasitism varied between 17.25-39.80 per cent in Rangeeni
and 25.24-37.91 per cent in Kusmi strain. On the other hand the Chemical management
reduction in fecundity of lac insects ranged between 22.44-
96.82 and 25.29-90.39 per cent in Rangeeni and Kusmi strains Chemical pesticides like HCH/Chlordane recommended by
respectively. The result showed that as the number of Chaudhary (1983) and dichlorvos by Mishra et al. (1996) for
parasitoids in each cell increased, there was a corresponding the management of Chrysopa are no more recommended in
decrease in resin production and fecundity of the lac insects. India after their categorization as highly hazardous insecticides
According to Narayanan (1962) superparasitism can occur but by WHO. The use of endosulfan presently in practice to control
typically one parasitoid larva occurs in single scale. The the lac insect predators has been banned in majority of the
parasitoids have life cycle of about one month in length, developed countries and in some parts of India due to its
compared to 4-9 months, depending on scale strain and season, carcinogenic effect (Arora et al., 2009). Gupta and
for K. lacca Tachardiaephagus tachardiae, Aprostocetus Bhattacharya (2007) evaluated the toxicity of naturalyte
purpureus, Coccophagus tschirchii have 10-12 generation on compound against Spilarctia oblique and reported that spinosad
commercial lac in a year, compared to 9 generation for was more active after 48 hr of treatment. Insecticides fipronil
Paraechthrodryinus clavicornis Cameron, an encyrtid that can (0.005 and 0.01%) and indoxacarb (0.02%) are equally
be either a primary or secondary parasitoids. T. tachardiae and effective as they cause cent per cent larval mortality within 24
A. purpureus belonging to the order hymenoptera are the most hr of treatment with both mode of application (topical
abundant lac associated parasitoids (Chattopadhyay, 2011). application and residual exposure).
According to Varshney (1976) 28 parasitoids are recorded from
lac scale species worldwide. The four braconid wasps listed are Ethofenprox (0.02%) is most suitable for protecting the lac
wrongly recorded as lac scale parasitoids but are actually crop at critical stage against C. madestes under field conditions
parasitoids of some of the many predacious Lepidoptera that without harming lac culture (Jaiswal et al., 2007). Toxicity of
attack lac scales. The remaining 24 species are all chalcidoid ethofenprox against first instar larvae of C. carnea has been
wasps (Aphelinidae. Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Eupelmidae and reported by Toda and Kashio (1997). The safety of ethofenprox
Pteromalidae. Most of these have been recorded from the against lac insect culture has been established upto 0.04 per
commercial lac scale in India. cent by field application (Jaiswal et al., 2004) and also by
dipping broodlac Bhattacharya et al. (2005). Mishra et al.
Sharma et al. (1997) reported fourteen species of parasitoids (1996) evaluated the efficacy of selected organophosphorus
under 13 genera representing ten families were found insecticides for the control of C. madestes and reported that
associated with K. lacca. Of these, A. purpureus and T. dichlorvos at 0.03 per cent was most suitable for the control of
tachardiae constituting about 55.82 per cent and 28.37 per the predator. Out of the four insecticides Endosulfan,
cent, respectively of the total population of parasitoids, were Dichlorvos, Cartap hydrochloride and Ethofenprox
among the most abundant. Among the beneficial fauna, only recommended by Jaiswal et al. (2004), Cartap hydrochloride
Bracon greeni Ashmaed was of some significance. Difference and Ethofenprox can be used for the management of
in relative abundance and emergence pattern on the basis of lepidopteran (E. amabilis and P. pulverea) and the neuropteran
variety, host and the location were observed but the two strain (Chrysopa spp.) predators of K. lacca. Bhattacharya et al.
of lac insect showed some differences in relative abundance of (2005) evaluated Cartap hydrochloride (CHC), an insecticide
parasitoids. Subbarayudu and Maheswar (1998) in a study having systemic and contact action, in lac ecosystem as a
reported three parasitic species A. purpureus, T. tachardia and substitute for the currently used conventional insecticide
C. tschirchii on Kusmi lac. The parasites showed different endosulfan. Three doses of CHC (0.05, 0.075 and 0.1 per cent)
patterns of peak emergence. Hayat et al. (2010) collected three tested against the predator E. amabilis infested on the 2nd instar
new species of Encyrtidae from lac insects which were larvae of lac insect (K. lacca) larvae reared on B. monosperma
Ooencyrtus thaiensis, O. paratachardinae, and during the rainy season proved safe to the lac insect and
Tachardiaephagus sarawakensis. Two undetermined species, enabled effective control of E. amabilis. CHC at 0.05 per cent
one each of Cerapteroceroides and Cheiloneurus were also provided results at par with endosulfan in respect of reduction
recorded, but not described. in the population of E. amabilis and consequent increase in lac
crop yield.
Management of abiotic constraints
Seven safer insecticides viz lambdacyhalothrin, carbosulfan,
Susceptibility of lac crops to higher temperature is widely spinosad indoxacarb, fipronil, alphamethirn and ethofenprox
acknowledged. Among the two lac strains- Rangeeni and against lac insect, evaluated for their bioefficacy against C.
Kusmi, former is more vulnerable and later is superior lacciperda by topical application and exposing the insect on
Baishakhi crop (October-May) of Rangeeni lac is the major residual film of insecticides results in cent per cent mortality of
13656 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 7, Issue, 03, pp.13652-13659, March, 2015

C. lacciperda within 24 hr with both modes of treatment. The net pouch for the management of E. amabilis in the lac crop
topical application of insecticides was found to be more while those with better financial status and the trees in plain
efficient compared to exposure of insect on residual films area and sufficient water can opt for a combination of 60 mesh
(Singh et al., 2009, 2010). Diflubenzuron- a fifth generation nylon pouches followed by a spray of endosulfan 30 days after
insecticide with insect growth regulatory activity recorded by the brood inoculation.
Coudriet and Seay (1979) has been reported to affect a number
of lepidopterans. Bhattacharya et al. (1995) reported strong Planting of Cassia occidentalis L. (Family: Leguminosac), a
ovicidal action of Diflubenzoron (Dimilin 25 WP) against the medicinal plant, on the periphery of a plot having F.
eggs of E. amabilis. macrophylla bushes harbouring lac insects resulted in
significant reduction in the population of the two Lepidopteran
Biological management lac insect predators viz. E. amabilis and P. pulverea and result
in significant increase in brood lac yield. The suppression of
E. amabilis can be controlled by using its indigenous parasite lac predator was due to higher incidence of Trichogramma
Bracon greeni Ashmead (Negi et al., 1945) and with the help chilonis Ishi which is an egg parasitoid of Lepidopteran insects
of natural enemies such as Componotus compressus and (Bhattacharaya et al., 2006). Chrysopa spp. attacking Kusmi
Solenopsis geminata (Rahman et al., 2009). E. amabilis and P. lac crop raised on Kusum (S. oleosa) during the months of
pulverea can be effectively controlled with the spray of August and September can be trapped by placing a light trap in
Bacillus thuringiensis (Malhotra and Choudhary, 1968). Delfin, the field. The extracted essential oils from Cymbopogon
a commercial formulation of B. thuringiensis subspecies citrates (lemon grass), C. martini (Palmarosa) and C. nardus
kurstaki recorded by Bhattacharya et al. (2008) is highly (Citronella) serve as an excellent repellents against E. amabilis
effective in dropping the incidence of E. amabilis and P. and P. pulverea (Bhattacharya et al., 2008).
pulverea while significantly increases the yield of K. lacca.
Three sprays of B. thuringiensis 0.051 per cent (commercial Conclusion
formulation Biolep) at an interval of 30 days after brood lac
inoculation can be used for the successful control of both E. K. lacca is a valuable insect of economical and ecological
amabilis and P. pulverea in Rangeeni lac on Ber (Jaiswal et al., interest. Lac production is an economical activity among
2008). rainfed farmers and forest dependants in Central Indian region.
K. lacca is prone to biotic and abiotic stress, thus affects the
The egg parasitoids Trichogramma achaeae, T. exiguum, T. productivity, influencing the cash inflow of poor and marginal
brasiliense, T. chilonis, T. poliae, T. ostrinae and T. pretiosum farmers. Biotic factors, predators and parasites cause heavy
can reduce the population of insect predators by more than 75 yield loss to the lac crop, requires to be managed sustainably.
per cent and are highly effective against the eggs of E amabilis Management of biotic factors may be a combination of
and P. pulverea (Bhattacharya et al., 2008). Sushil et al., chemical, cultural and biological. This approach will reduce the
(1995) found T. pretiosum as an efficient egg parasitoid of E. cost as well as protect the environment. Manipulation of the
amabilis as it damaged 88.23 per cent eggs E. amabilis but the host and location to combat climate change may be
emergence of the parasitoid from the parasitized eggs was only strategically plan, so that lac production is sustainable and
20.5 per cent. Bhattacharya et al. (2006) in a field evaluation economical.
trail for the management of E. amabilis with three species of
the egg parasitoids (T. achaea, T. exigum and T. ostrinae) REFERENCES
observed significant suppression of E. amabilis over the control
with the release of 75 egg parasitoids per plant in Kusmi and Anonymous, 2010. Annual climate summary 2010.
Rangeeni lac biotypes. They are also equally affective to Government of India, Ministry of Earth Sciences, India
suppress the population of E. amabilis on lac crop raised on the Meteorological Department, Pune, India, pp: 1-25.
bushy host plant, F. macrophylla (Bhattacharya et al., 2007). http://www.imdpune.gov.in/research/ncc/climatebulletin/an
The presence of ant fauna on lac colony reduced the predator of nual_climate_summary_2010.pdf
E. amabilis and P. pulverea population by 78.66 per cent Arora, S., Dureja, P., Kanojia, A. K. and Bambawale, O. M.
(Kumar et al., 2007). Ant in the course of collecting and 2009. Pesticides, their Classification based on WHO and
feeding honeydew secreted by lac colony destroyed the eggs of Global Status of Hazardous Pesticides. National Centre for
the predators. Integrated Pest Management, New Delhi, India, Pages: 110.
Attridge, T. H. 1990. Light and Plant Responses: A Study of
Cultural and physical management Plant Photophysiology and the Natural Environment.
Cambridge University Press, England, UK. ISBN-13:
Keeping the brood sticks inside a 60 mesh nylon net bag during 9780521427487, Pages: 148.
inoculation traps parasitoids and predators, while allowing only Ben-Dov, Y. and Lit, I.L. 1998. Stabilizing Kerriidae as the
lac crawlers to come out for settlement on new shoots family-group name of the lac insects (Hem., Coccoidea).
Malhotra, (1983). Khobragade et al., (2012) while conducting a Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique de France, 103: 455-
farmer participatory trial on the predator management of K. 456.
lacca revealed two options for the management of E. amabilis Bhagat, M.L. and Mishra, Y.D. 2002. Abiotic Factors
for different groups of lac growers. Lac growers with poor Affecting Lac Productivity. In: Recent Advances in Lac
investment capacity and those having their B. monosperma tree Culture, Kumar, K.K., R. Ramani and K.K. Sharma (Eds.).
on the hilly and water scarce areas may opt for 60 mesh nylon ILRI, Ranchi, India, pp: 64-68.
13657 Tahir Hussain Shah et al. Lac production, constraints and management- A review

Bharat, R. 2010. Jharkhand: Current status of lac production knowledge. Indian Shellac, pp: 9-16.
issue, remedial measures and support system for http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/oct102006/894.pdf
development. District Forest Officer, Jharkhand Forest De, U. S. and Mukhopadhyay, R. K. 1998. Severe heat wave
Department, Palamau, Jharkhand, pp: 33-34. over the Indian subcontinent in 1998, in perspective of
Bhattacharya, A., Jaiswal, A. K., Singh, J. P., and Goel, S. C. global climate. Curr. Sci., 75: 1308-1311.
2008. Management of Lac Insect Predators through IPM English-Loeb, G., Stout, M. J. and Duffey, S. S. 1997. Drought
based Biorational Approaches. In: Emerging Trends of stress in tomatoes: Changes in plant chemistry and potential
Researches in Insect Pest Management and Environmental nonlinear consequences for insect herbivores. Oikos, 79:
Safety, Goel, S.C. (Ed.). Vol. 1, Uttar Pradesh Zoological 456-468.
Society, India, pp: 221-226. Ferdousee, N., Nayen, M. J., Rafiqul Hoque, A. T. M. and
Bhattacharya, A., Jaiswal, A.K. and Kumar, S. 2005. Effect of Mohiuddin, M. 2010. Lac production and its economic
treatment of broodlac with a few insecticides on the return to rural economy in Rajshahi division, Bangladesh.
harboured inimical insects. J. Entomol. Res., 29: 223-225. Proceedings of the International Conference on
Bhattacharya, A., Kumar, S. and Jaiswal, A. K. 2007. Environmental Aspects of Bangladesh, September 4, 2010,
Evaluation of Trichogramma species for the suppression of Japan, pp: 69-72. http://www.benjapan.org/iceab10/16.pdf
lepidopteran insect predator, Eublemma amabilis Moore, in Glover, P. M. 1937. Lac Cultivation in India. 2nd Edn., Indian
lac culture on Flemingia macrophylla. J. Biol. Control, 21: Lac Research Institute, Ranchi, India, Pages: 147.
267-270.347035ja Gogoi, I. and Dutta, B. C. 2000. Seasonal abundance of cotton
Bhattacharya, A., Kumar, S., Jaiswal, A. K. and Kumar, K. K. jassid, Amrasca Biguttula biguttula (Ishida) on Okra. J.
2006. Trichogramma spp. for the management of Agric. Sci. Soc. North-East India, 13: 22-26.
Eublemma amabilis Moore (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) – a Gupta, G. and Bhattacharaya, A. 2007. Naturalyte management
predator of Indian lac insect. Entomon., 31(2): 121-124. of damaging larval stages of Spilarctia oblique Walker
Bhattacharya, A., Mishra, Y.D., Jaiswal, A.K., Sharma, K.K., (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Indian J. Entomol., 69: 381-386.
Malhotra, C.P. and Sushil, S.N. 1995. Division of lac Hayat, M., Schroer, S. and Pemberton, R.W. 2010. On some
production, Indian lac research, institute, Namkum, Ranchi. encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) on Lac Insects
Pest Manage. Econ. Zool., 3: 29-31. (Hemiptera: Kerriidae) From Indonesia, Malaysia and
Chattopadhyay, S. 2011. Introduction to lac and lac culture. Thailand. Oriental Insects, 44: 23-33.
Tech. Bull. FBTI: 01/2011, Department of Forest Biology IPCC, 2007. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and
and Tree Improvement, Faculty of Forestry, Birsa Vulnerability: Contribution of Working Group II to the
Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi, India, May 2011. Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel
http://www.wkfinetools.com/wWorking/z_recipes/LacCultu on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press,
re/0_img-pdf/IntroductionToLac&LacCulture.pdf. Cambridge, UK., ISBN-13: 9780521880107, Pages: 976.
Chaudhary, S.G. 1983. Chemical control of Chrysopa Sp. Jaiswal, A. K., Bhattacharya, A. Kumar, K. K. and Kumar, S.
Annual Report, Indian Lac Research Institute, Ranchi, 2004. Evaluation of Ethofenprox (Nukil 10 EC) on Lac
India, pp: 1-21. Insect Culture for Management of Eublemma Amabilis
Chen, X. M., 2005. Biodiversity of Lac Insects. Yunnan Moore: A Lepidopteran Predator. In: New Horizons of
Science and Technology Press, Kunming, China, pp: 1-77. Animal Sciences, Pandey, B.N., P. Natarajan, N. Armugam
Chen, X. M., Chen, Y. Q., Zhang, H. and Shi, L. 2008. Lac and S. Premjith (Eds.). Zoological Society of India, Magadh
Insects Breeding and Lac Processing. Chinese Forestry University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar, pp: 47-50.
Press, Beijing, China. Jaiswal, A. K., Bhattacharya, A. Kumar, S. and Patamajhi, P.
Chen, X. M., Wang, S. Y., Mao, Y. F. and Feng, Y. 1992. On 2007. Evaluation of ethofenprox on Chrysopa madestes
the male acdeas of four species of Lac insects and (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): A serious pest of Indian lac
preliminary cross breeding test. For. Res., 5: 236-238. insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr). J. Entomol. Res., 31: 113-114.
Chen, X., Chen, H., Feng, Y., He, R. and Yang, Z. 2011. Jaiswal, A. K., Bhattacharya, A., Kumar, S. and Singh, J.P.
Status of two species of lac insects in the genus Kerria from 2008. Evaluation of Bacillus thuringlensis Berliner subsp
China based on morphological, cellular and molecular kurstaki for management of lepidopteran pests of lac insect.
evidence. J. Insect Sci., Vol. 11. Entomon, 33: 65-69.
Chen, Y. Q. and Yao, W. J. 2007. Lac resources and their Kapur, A. P. 1962. The Lac Insect. In: A Monograph on Lac,
utilization in the world. World For. Res., 20: 61-65. Mukhopadhyay, B. and M.S. Muthana (Eds.). Indian Lac
Chen, Y., Li, Q., Chen, Y., Wang, S. and Yang, Y. 2010. Lac- Research Institute, Ranchi, India, pp: 59-89.
production, arthropod biodiversity and abundance and Khopragade D., Thomas M., Pachori R., Sharma J.L. and
pesticide use in Yunnan province, China. Trop. Ecol., 51: Shrivastava A. 2012. Farmer participatory trial on the
255-263. predator management of Lac insect K. lawwi (Kerr) in
Collinge, S. K. and Louda, S. M. 1988. Herbivory by leaf Anuppur District, Madhya Pradesh. Journal of Tropical
miners in response to experimental shading of a native Forestry, 28(1&2): 38-45.
crucifer. Oecologia, 75: 559-566. Kumar K. K. 2002. Scope of lac cultivation in employment and
Coudriet, D. L. and Seay, D. 1979. Diflubenzuron: Laboratory income generation. In Recent advances in lac culture (eds
evaluation against three lepidopteran pests of vegetables. J. Kumar K.K., Ramani R. and Sharma K.K.), ILRI,
Georgia Entomol. Soc., 14: 325-329. Ranchi.pp.254-262.
Das, B. B., 1990. Present status of entomological research on
lac in India and future strategies. Part 1. Present status of
13658 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 7, Issue, 03, pp.13652-13659, March, 2015

Kumar, S., Kumari,v and Sharma, A.K. 2007. Ant fauna: A based gardenland agro ecosystem of Coimbatore. Madras
potential bio control agent in lac ecosystem. Indian J. Agric. J., 88: 1-6.
Entomol., 69: 359-362. Mustafa, M. M. 2002. Non wood forests products market
Lal, M. 2003. Global climate change: India’s monsoon and its review. SDC Sustainable Land Use Programme,
variability. J. Environ. Stud. Policy, 6: 1-34. Programme Management and Support Unit, Rajshahi,
Malhotra, C. P. 1983. Control of pests of lac insect Kerria Bangladesh, pp: 18-27.
lacca (Kerr) for easy adoption by cultivators. Indian Narayanan, E. S., 1962. Pest of Lac in India. Indian Lac
Shellac, 1: 6-7. Research Institute, Ranchi, India, pp: 90-133.
Malhotra, C. P. and Choudhary, S.G. 1968. Control of Negi, P. S., Gupta, S. N. Misra, M. P. Venkataraman, T. V.
Eublemma amabilis moore (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) and and De, R. K. 1945. Biological control of Eublemma
Holcocera pulverea Meyr (blastobasidae; Lepidoptera), amabilis Moore, a predator of lac insect by one of its
predators of the lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) by Bacillus indigenous parasites, Bracon (Microbracon) Greeni Ashm.
thuringiensis Berliner. J. Invertebr. Pathol., 11: 429-439. Indian J. Otolaryngol., 7: 37-40.
Malhotra, C. P. and Katiyar, 1975. Control of Eublemma Nicholson J. W. 1925. Some notes on lac cultivation. Indian
amabilis Moore: A serious predators of the lac insect, forester, Dehradun. 51(10): 483-498.
Kerria lacca (Kerr.) Screening of insecticide for their safety Oerke, E. C., Dehne, H. W., Schonbeck, F. and Weber, A.
to lac insect. Indian J. Entomol., 37: 385-396. 1994. Crop Production and Crop Protection: Estimated
Mattson, W. J. and Haack, R. A. 1987. The role of drought in Losses in Major Food and Cash Crops. Elsevier Science,
outbreaks of plant-eating insects. Bioscience, 37: 110-118. Amsterdam, UK. ISBN-13: 978-0444820952, Pages: 830.
Mehra, B. P. 1965. Biology of Chrysopa madestes banks Ogle, A., Thomas, M. and Tiwari, L. M. 2006. Strategic
(Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Indian J. Entomol., 27: 398- development of lac in Madhya Pradesh. Final Report,
407. Department for International Development (DFID),
Mehra, B. P. 1966. Biology of Chrysopa laciperda Kimmins. J. MPRLP-TCPSU, India, June2006, pp: 1-34.
Bombay Natl. Hist. Soc., 63: 215-218. http://s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/mprlp.in/Content
Middya R. K. 2010. West Bengal: Current status of lac Pages/2505012699.pdf.
production, issues, remedial measures and support system Pal, G. 2009. Impact of scientific lac cultivation training on lac
for development. Current issues related to lac production. economy: A study in Jharkhand. Agric. Econ. Res. Rev., 22:
pp. 38-39. 139-143.
Miles P. W., Aspinall D. and Correll A. T. 1982. The Pal, G., Bhagat, M. L. and Bhattacharya, A. 2009. Economics
performance of two chewing insects on water-stressed food and resource use efficiency of Lac cultivation in Jharkhand.
plants in relation to changes in their chemical composition. Indian J. For., 32: 95-98.
Australian Journal of Zoology. 30: 347–355. Pal, G., Jaiswal, A. K. and Bhattacharya, A. 2011. Lac statistics
Mishra, Y. D., 2002. Technology of Lac Cultivation on Kusum. at a glance 2010. Technical Bulletin No. 01/2011, Indian
In: Recent Advances in Lac Culture, Kumar, K.K., R. Institute of Natural Resins and Gums, Ranchi, pp: 1-24.
Ramani and K.K. Sharma (Eds.). ILRI, Ranchi, India, pp: Panickar, B. K. and Patel, J. R 2001. Population dynamics of
1-290. different species of thrips on chilli, cotton and pigeonpea.
Mishra, Y. D., Chaudhary, S.G. Bhattacharya, A. and Kumar, Indian J. Entomol., 63: 170-175.
P. 1999b. Advanced broodlac production technology on Patel, K. I., Patel, J. R., Jayani, D. B., Shekh, A. M. and Patel,
Kusum. Technical Bulletin No. 1, International Livestock N. C. 1997. Effect of seasonal weather on incidence and
Research Institute (ILRI), Namkum, Ranchi, India, pp: development of major pests of okra Abelmoschus
1-8. esculentus. Indian J. Agric. Sci., 67: 181-183.
Mishra, Y. D., Sushil, S. N., Sharma, K. K., Bhattacharya A. Potter, D. A. 1992. Abundance and mortality of a specialist
and Jaiswal, A. K. 1996. Efficacy of selected leafminer in response to experimental shading and
organophosphorus insecticides for control of Chrysopa fertilization of American holly. Oecologia, 91: 14-22.
madestes (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): A serious sporadic Price, P. W. 1991. The plant vigor hypothesis and herbivore
predator of Indian lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr). New attack. Oikos, 62: 244-251.
Agriculturist, 7: 17-20. Rahman, M. M., Ahmed, K. N. Karim, K. N. S. and Ali, M. S.
Mishra, Y. D., Sushil, S.N. Bhattacharya, A. and Kumar, S. 2009. Bionomics of Eublemma amabilis Moore
Mallick, A. and Sharma, K. K. 1999a. Intra specific (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a major predator of lac insect and
variation in host plants affecting productivity of Indian lac its control measure. Bangladesh J. Scient. Ind. Res., 44: 57-
insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr). J. Non-Timber For. Prod., 6: 64.
114-117. Ramani, R. 2005. Genetics of Lac Insects. In: Gleanings in
Mittler, R. 2006. Abiotic stress, the field environment and Entomology, Ramamurty, V. V., Singh, V. S. Gupta, G. P.
stress combination. Trends Plant Sci., 11: 15-19. and Paul, A. V. N. (Eds.). IARI, New Delhi, pp: 266-280.
Mohanta, J., Dey, D.G. and Mohanty, N. 2012. Performance of Ramani, R., Baboo, B. and Goswami, D. N. 2007. Lac: An
lac insect, Kerria lacca Kerr in conventional and Introduction. Indian Lac Research Institute, Ranchi, India,
non-conventional cultivation around Similipal Biosphere pp: 1-12.
Reserve, Odisha, India. Bioscan, 7: 237-240. Rao, G. G. S. N., Rao and Ra, V.U.M. 2009. Trends in Rainfall
Murugan, M. and Uthamasamy, S. 2001. Dispersal behaviour and Temperature in Rainfed India in Previous Century. In:
of cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci (genn.) under cotton Global Climate Change and Indian Agriculture: Case
 13659 Tahir Hussain Shah et al. Lac production, constraints and management- A review

Studies from ICAR Network Project, Aggarwal, P. K. (Ed.). Subbarayudu, B. and Maheswar, L.B. 1998. Incidence of
ICAR Publication, New Delhi, pp: 71-73. certain major parasites of lac insect, Kerria lacca Kerr on
Roonwal, M. L. 1962. Lac Hosts. In: A Monograph on Lac, Schleichera oleosa. Indian For., 124: 669-670.
Mukhopadhyay, B. and M.S. Muthana (Eds.). Indian Lac Sushil, S. N., Bhattacharya, A., Sharma, K. K., Jaiswal, A. K.
Research Institute, Ranchi, India, pp: 14-58. and Mishra, Y.D. 1995. Introduction of Trichogramma
Samra, J.S. 2003. Impact of climate and weather on Indian pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidea) as
agriculture. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 51: 418-430. eggs parasitoid of Eublemma amabilis Moore (Lepidoptera:
Shaoji, G. 1993. An investigation on the pathogens of both lac Noctuidea ): A predator of lac insect. Pest Manage. Econ.
insects and their host plants. For. Res. 6: 711–713. Zool., 3: 51-53.
Sharma, K. K. 2007. Lac Insect-Host Plant Interaction: Thielert, W. 2006. A unique product: The story of the story of
Implications on Quantity and Quality of Lac. In: Model the imidacloprid stress shield. Pflanzenschutz-Nachrichten
Training Course on Advanced Lac Production, Storage and Bayer, 59: 73-86.
Application Technology for Employment and Income Thomas, M. 2004. Squirrel damage to Kusumi lac in Madhya
Generation, Bhattacharya, A., Jaiswal, A. K., Prasad, N. Pradesh, India. Vaniki Sandesh, 28: 14-15.
and Pal, G. (Eds.). ILRI, Ranchi, India, pp: 41-48. Thomas, M. 2010. Madhya Pradesh: Current status of Lac
Sharma, K. K. and Ramani, R. 1999. An update on synoptic production, issues, remedial measures and support system
catalogue of lac insects (Homoptera: Tachardidae). J. for development. Current issues related to lac production.
Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 96: 438-443. pp. 35-37.
Sharma, K. K., Jaiswal, A. K. and Kumar, K. K. 2001. New Toda, S. and Kashio, T. 1997. Toxic effects of pesticides on the
record of fungi associated with Indian lac insect, Kerria larvae of Chrysoperla carnea. Proc. Assoc. Plant Prot., 43:
lacca (Kerr). Indian J. Entomol., 63: 369-371. 101-105.
Sharma, K. K., Jaiswal, A. K. and Kumar, K. K. 2006. Role of Varshney, R. K. 1968. Further data on host-plants of lac insects
lac culture in biodiversity conservation: Issues at stake and (Tachardidae: Homoptera). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 65:
conservation strategy. Curr. Sci., 91: 894-898. 249-251.
Sharma, K. K., Kumari, K. and Lakhanpaul, S. 2007. Super Varshney, R. K. 2009. Revised synoptic catalogue of the lac
parasitism in Indian lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr) and its insects of world (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Tachardiidae).
implication on fecundity and resin producing efficiency of Bionotes, 11: 6-10.
its two strains. Entomon J., 32: 33-39. Varshney, R. K. and Teotia, T. P. S. 1968. A supplementary list
Sharma, K. K., Ramani, R. and Mishra, Y.D. 1997. An of the host-plants of lac insects. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.,
additional list of the host plants of lac insects, Kerria spp. 64: 488-511.
(Tachardidae: Homoptera). J. Non-Timber For. Prod., 4: Varshney, R. K., 1976. Taxonomic studies on lac insects of
151-155. India (Homopetra: Tachardiidae). Orient. Insects, 5: 1-97.
Singh, J. P., Jaiswal, A. K. and Monobrullah, M. D. 2011a. Varshney, R. K., 1977. Taxonomic studies of lac insects of
Safety evaluation of some newer pesticides against lac India (Homoptera, Tachardiidae). Orient. Insects, 5: 1-97.
insect (Kerria lacca) for managing predators. Indian J. Varshney, R. K., 1985. A review of Indian Coccids
Agric. Sci., 81: 465-469. (Homoptera, Coccoidea). Orient. Insects, 19: 1-101.
Singh, J. P., Jaiswal, A. K. Monobrullah, M. D. and Wang, M., Zheng, Q., Shen, Q. and Guo, S. 2013. The critical
Bhattacharya, A. 2009. Response of sime selected role of potassium in plant stress response. Int. J. Mol. Sci.,
insecticides on neuropteran predator (Chrysopa lacciperda) 14: 7370-7390.
of lac insect (Kerria lacca). Indian J. Agric. Sci., 79: 727- Wang, W. X., Vinocur, B. and Altman, A. 2003. Plant
731. responses to drought, salinity and extreme temperatures:
Singh, J. P., Jaiswal, A.K. Monobrullah, M.D. and towards genetic engineering for stress tolerance. Planta,
Bhattacharya, A. 2010. Effect of selected pesticides on 218: 1-14.
larval mortality of the neuropteran predator, Chrysopa White, T. C. R., 1969. An index to measure weather-induced
lacciperda Kimmins, of the lac insect, Kerria lacca. J. stress of trees associated with outbreaks of psyllids in
Asia-Pac. Entomol., 13: 69-72. Australia. Ecology, 50: 905-909.
Singh, J.P., Jaiswal, A. K. and Monobrullah, M.D. 2011b. White, T. C. R., 1993. The Inadequate Environment: Nitrogen
Green lacewing (Chrysoperla zastrowi Arabica) incidence and the Abundance of Animals. Springer-Verlag, Germany,
onIndian lac insect (Kerria lacca). Indian J. Agric. Sci., 81: ISBN-13: 9780387568287, Pages: 425.
1087-1089.
*******