Lac insect occurrence in different agroclimatic zones of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Field surveys for lac insect occurrence were carried out in 319 blocks of 51 districts in eleven different agro-climatic zones of Madhya Pradesh. Documentation for occurrence of lac insect was carried out on passport datasheets. Lac insect occurrence was observed in Kymore plateau of Satpura hills in 65 sites (22.57%) followed by Northern hills region of Chhattisgarh in 61 sites (21.18%), Malwa Plateau in 38 sites (13.20%), Chhattisgarh plains in 39 sites (13.54%), Gird Zone 29 sites (10.06%), Central Narmada valley 20 sites (6.95%), Satpura hills 11 sites (3.81%), Vindhyan Plateau 14 sites (4.86%), Nimar valley 6 sites (2.08), Jhabua hills 4 sites (1.39%), minimum frequency of lac occurrence was reported from Bundelkhand region with only one site (0.34%). The present study also revealed lac insect encrustation on 17 different host plants, four lac host plants, viz., Butea monosperma, Schleichera oleosa, Ziziphus mauritiana and Ficus religiosa were found as major host plants with lac encrustation. During the survey in most of the districts, Rangeeni strain was dominant on Palas tree to be in higher numbers with abundant diversity in 75 sites of Seoni, Balaghat and Mandla district whereas kusmi strain was found abundantly in 4 sites of Hoshangabad, Chhindwara, Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Rangeeni strain on Palas tree is also cultivated frequently in 34 sites of Balaghat, Mandla, Seoni, Anuppur, Shahdol and Katni district whereas Kusmi strain is cultivated frequently in 19 sites of Hoshangabad, Chhindwara, Narsinghpur, Balaghat, Mandla and Seoni districts of Madhya Pradesh. Rangeeni strain is occasionally cultivated in 23 sites of Mandla, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Katni, Seoni, Betul, Chhindwara districts whereas Kusmi strain is abundandly cultivated in 5 sites of Dindori, Hoshanagabad, Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh. In natural condition Rangeeni strain is occasionally found in 49 sites of 19 districts of Madhya Pradesh whereas in natural condition Rangeeni lac is rarely found in 79 sites of 38 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Lac insects recorded from this region will help to promote lac culture in other areas as well as biodiversity of lac insect species will also remain conserved and maintained.