LAC CULTURE IS THE SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT OF LAC

INSECTS TO OBTAIN A HIGH AMOUNT OF QUALITY LAC.

THIS INVOLVES SELECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF HOST
PLANTS, INOCULATION OF HOST PLANTS WITH HEALTHY
LAC INSECTS, COLLECTION AND PROCESSING OF LAC
AND PROTECTION AGAINST ENEMIES.
 LAC

IT IS A RESINOUS SUBSTANCE, OF ORANGE-RED COLOUR, SECRETED BY A SPECIES OF

SCALE INSECTS OF CHIEFLY LACCIFER LACCA, WHICH LIVE UNDER THE TENDER
BRANCHES OF CERTAIN TREES, SUCKING THE JUICE OF THE TREE, AND FORMING ON
THESE A CONTINUOUS WAXY INCRUSTATION.
 LAC INSECT

LAC INSECT ANY OF THE SPECIES OF METATACHARDIA, LACCIFER, TACHORDIELLA,

AUSTROTACHARIDIA, AFROTACHARDINA, AND TACHARDINA OF THE SUPERFAMLY
COCCOIDEA, ORDER HOMOPTERA THAT ARE NOTED FOR RESINOUS EXUDATION FROM
THE BODIES OF FEMALES. MEMBERS OF TWO OF THE FAMILIES VIZ. LACCIFERIDAE AND
TACHARDINIDAE APPEAR TO BE MORE CONCERNED WITH LAC SECRETION.
 HOST PLANTS

THE LAC INSECTS HAVE MORE THAN ONE HOST PLANT. THE SELECTION OF SUITABLE
HOST PLANT FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LAC IS OF MUCH IMPORTANCE.BRUN (1958) HAS
MENTIONED THAT 113 VARIETIES OF HOST PLANTS ARE FOUND IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL
INDIAN REGIONS INCLUDING PAKISTAN AND BURMA.
 OUT OF THESE 113 HOST PLANTS ONLY 14 ARE
VERY COMMON IN INDIA, WHICH ARE AS FOLLOWS
THE QUALITY OF LAC IS DIRECTLY RELATED WITH THE QUALITY OF HOST PLANT.
KHAIR, KUSUM AND BABUL GIVE BETTER QUALITY OF LAC WHEN SOWN DIRECTLY IN
THE FIELD. BUT PALAS, BER AND GHONT GIVE GOOD CROP WHEN THEY ARE FIRST SOWN
IN NURSERY AND THEN TRANSPLANTED TO THE LAC-GROWING FIELD.
 TYPES OF LAC
• 1. KUSMI LAC:
IT GROWS ON KUSUM TREES. INOCULATION IS DONE IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY AND
HARVESTED IN JUNE-JULY.
• 2. RANJEENI LAC:
IT GROWS ON TREES OTHER THAN KUSUM. INOCULATED IN OCTOBER-NOVEMBER AND
HARVESTED IN NEXT MAY-JUNE.
 FACTOR EFFECTING LAC
PRODUCTION
• 1. CLIMATIC FACTORS:
A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL CUES LIKE HOT WIND, HIGH RAINFALL, RISE IN
TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY AND EXTREME CHILL WEATHER AFFECT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSECT AND PRODUCTION OF LAC. FOGGY WEATHER KILLS THE
NEWLY EMERGED MALES.
• 2. PREDATORS AND PARASITES:
BESIDES THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THERE IS A LONG LIST OF PREDATORS,
PARASITES AND PESTS, WHICH CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE LAC CROP.
 USE OF LAC
LAC CONTAINS HIGH CONCENTRATION OF RESIN, MODERATE QUANTITIES OF SUGAR,
SALTS, PROTEINS, LIQUID WAX, ORGANIC OILS AND TRACES OF ALKALOIDS AND INSECT
AND PLANT TISSUES.

LAC IS USED AS AN ADHESIVE BASE IN MANY CHEMICAL PREPARATIONS DUE TO ITS

STICKY NATURE. IT IS USED AS AN INGREDIENT IN PLASTICS FOR MAKING TOYS,
VESSELS, ETC. LAC IS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VARNISHES, PAINTS, AND
COATING CABLE INSULATIONS.