Lac Insect Research Articles

ChemInform Abstract: CHEMISTRY OF THE COCCOIDEA. VI. PIGMENTS OF THE LAC INSECT AUSTROTACHARDIA ACACIAE (HEMIPTERA): CHEMISTRY AND CRYSTAL STRUCTURE

AbstractIm Unterschied zu denen der indischen Spezies Laccifer lacca Kerr ist der Hauptbestandteil der Pigmente der australischen Art Austrotachardia acaciae Maskell, Xantholaccainsäure B (Ia), nicht ein Gemisch von Laccainsäuren.

Chemistry of the Coccoidea. VI. Pigments of the lac insect Austrotachardia acaciae (Hemiptera): Chemistry and crystal structure

Pigments of the Australian lacciferid, Austrotachardia acaciae Maskell, differ from those of Indian lac insects in that the major constituent is xantholaccaic acid B (9) rather than a mixture of laccaic acids. Its structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction of a new hexamethyl derivative. Xantholaccaic acids have not previously been found in nature.

Gene expression and transmission in Kerria lacca (Kerr)

Cytological studies of the Indian lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) resulted in contrary reports suggesting two quite distinct chromosome systems, the orthodox and the unorthodox “ Lecanoid “ system. Genetic tests with the first discovered mutant, namely yellow, confirmed elimination of the paternal chromosome in K. lacca, but unlike the “ Lecanoid “ system the male was found to express the paternal allele. The results reported here with the other marker genes provide further evidence that the unorthodox genetic system of K. lacca differs from the “ Lecanoid “ system in gene expression.

A check-list of insect parasites associated with lac

Abstract Seventy-two species of insect parasites associated with the lac insects and their predators are reported. Synonyms have been given separate entries for cross reference. Host lac insect species and region of occurrence are indicated. Source of every record has been compiled.

Cells secreting non‐resinous substances in the female lac insect Kerria lacca (Homoptera‐Coccoidea)

The non‐resinous secretions, both waxy and non‐waxy, are all produced by specialized epidermal cells.

Non‐resinous secretions of the lac insect Kerria lacca (Homoptera‐Coccoidea)

The place of origin, sequence of appearance and the shape of various non‐resinous secretions during the entire life cycle of both male and female lac insects, have been described here. Properties of the secretions found in the adult female are also given.A total of 20 non‐resinous secretions has been found in Kerria lacca. Fourteen of these secretions–dorsal relic, pencils, brachial mass, large anal hairs, short anal hairs, brachial core, major spiracular secretion, minor spiracular secretion, non‐stalked girdle fibres, stalked girdle fibres, thin ventral patch, oral lobe secretion, brachial marginal secretion and cavaera secretion–are present both in male and female lac insects. Three secretions– opercular secretion, canella secretion and caudal filaments–occur only in the male while the remaining three–ventrolateral compact flat fibres, ventrolateral long coiled threads and perivaginal fine filaments–occur only in the female.Two types of non‐resinous secretions, 13 waxy and four non‐waxy, occur in female K. lacca. The dorsal relic, pencils and their modifications (anal tubercular splint and anal tubercular shield), brachial mass, large anal hairs, short anal hairs, major spiracular secretion, minor spiracular secretion, non‐stalked girdle fibres, thin ventral patch, oral lobe secretion, brachial marginal secretion, cavaera secretion and ventrolateral compact flat fibres are waxy in nature, whereas the brachial core, stalked girdle fibres, ventrolateral long coiled threads and perivaginal fine filaments are non‐waxy.

Total glycogen during development of Kerria lacca (Kerr.) (Homoptera: Coccoidea)

Glycogen is present in the newly emerged larva of Kerria lacca (Kerr.). In the male lac insect the quantity of glycogen reaches a maximum in the early pupal stage and then declines sharply to a low level in the adult. In the female lac insect the total glycogen content increases regularly up to the adult stage.

A Simple Method for Confirmation of Amaranth, Cochineal Pigment and Laccaic Acid by Cellulose Acetate Membrane Electrophoresis

Recently, the addition of natural colors has been increasing instead of artificial dyes in commercial food. In the qualitative tests of tar dyes, we used the wollen yarn staining method for the clean up of dyes. By this method, carminic acid, the pigment of cochineal and laccaic acid, coloring matter in resin known as stick lac, produced by lac insect, is caught together with acid tar dyes. In the paper chromatographic identification of the dyes, doubtful spots were shown by the above-mentioned dyes in the chromatogram for amaranth when the solvent system of isoamylalcohol: acetone: water (5: 6: 5, v/v/v) was used. Further, when solvent systems were used, it was difficult to identify which color stuff was laccaic acid or carminic acid because they were mixtures of pigments having analogous chemical structures but different Rf values.Amaranth has three sulfonyl moieties in the molecule, laccaic acid has two carboxyls while carminic acid has one carboxyl. Therefore, electrophoretic analysis might be useful in the separation of these three color stuffs on a standpoint of negative charge in their molecules. Thus, we attempted the separation and identification of them by cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis.Using M/15 phosphate buffer (pH 7.0, ionic strength 0.147) as electrolyte, electrophoresis was conducted for 20 minutes at a constant current of 0.6mA/cm across membrane. The running zones of pigments moved all to the anode, and separation was complete, with the degree of mobility in the order of amaranth, laccaic acid and carminic acid.

Bionomics of <i>Eublemma amabilis</i> Moore (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a Major Predator of Lac insect and Its Control Measure

The moth, Eublemma amabilis Moore is very destructive to lac insect and lac encrustation. The moth is generally white-pinkish in colour and it lays gray-white and round eggs, depressed in the centre. The newly hatched larva enters the lac insect either through one of the opening in the cell or by tunneling a hole through the encrustation. A single larva damages 42-50 matured cells prior to pupation. It completes six generation in a year and causes comparatively more injury to the "Kartki" crop than to the Baishaki crop. The morphological details of this predator were studied. Several natural enemies of E. amabilis have been recorded. Key words: Eublemma amabilis, Lac, Predator, Crop injury and Control measure. doi: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i1.2714 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(1), 57-64, 2009

Lobate Lac Scale, Paratachardina lobata lobata (Chamberlin) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Kerriidae)

A species of scale insect new to Florida is potentially one of the most devastating pests of trees and shrubs in the state's history. The lobate lac scale, Paratachardina lobata lobata (Chamberlin) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Kerriidae), a scale insect native to India and Sri Lanka, was found for the first time in Florida in August 1999 by personnel of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry (DPI) (Hamon 2001). This document is EENY-276, one of a series of the Department of Entomology, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Date printed: November 2002.
 EENY-276/IN471: Lobate Lac Scale, Paratachardina lobata lobata (Chamberlin) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Kerriidae) (ufl.edu)

Control of Eublemma amabilis moore (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) and Holcocera pulverea Meyr (blastobasidae; Lepidoptera), predators of the lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) by Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner

Commercial preparations of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, namely “Thuricide W.P.” as well as “Thuricide ®” were tried in various concentrations in the laboratory as well as under field conditions for the control of Eublemma amabilis Moore and Holcocera pulverea Meyr, the two most destructive predatory insects of lac insects. As a result of these preliminary trials, 62.9–100% control of the larvae of both predatory insects has been achieved with no adverse effect on the lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr), at any stage of its development. There was also no effect on two ectoparasites of E. amabilis namely, Bracon greeni Ashmead and Elasmus claripennis Cameron.

Frequency of honeydew excretion in the lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr) (Homoptera: Tachardiidae)

The frequency of honeydew excretion in the larva of the lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr), varies from 2.08 to 3.30 droplets, and that in the fertilized adult female from 8.04 to 10.10 droplets per insect per hour. Approximately three- to- five-fold increase in the frequency of excretion from the larval to the adult stage is an indication of the vigorous physiological activity during the adult life of the insect.

Lac insects before the first moult and their sex identification

SummaryThe first stage larvae of lac insects reveal secondary sexual dimorphism. The sex can be easily identified when growth is evident, usually when the larvae are one‐third grown in the first stage.

Variated Leaf Shape of Infected Plants of Samanea saman (Jacqu.) Merr.

DURING the past few years, rain trees (Samanea saman (Jacqu.) Merr.) in and about Calcutta are dying in numbers. Some of these trees growing in the Indian Botanic Garden, Calcutta, were found heavily infected by lac insects, Laccifer lacca (Kerr). Infected branches of these plants bear highly pinnate leaves. The shape, size, number and thickness of leaflets in individual leaves of infected plants are markedly different from those of normal plants (Figs. 1 and 2). The size and appearance of complete leaves in infected plants are also different from those in normal plants. Usually the leaflets in infected plants are of different degrees of ovate shape with variously acute opposite ends. The normal leaflets are broadly obovate to very broadly obovate. For describing these leaflets, the terminologies proposed by the Systematics Association Committee1 have been used.

Lakshadia communis the wild lac‐insect

Lakshadia communis the wild lac‐insect

Waxes of the lac insect and their glands

ZusammenfassungErgänzt durch zahlreiche Abbildungen wird die Morphologie der wachserzeugenden Drüsen sowie die Bedeutung der verschiedenen Wachsarten für den Aufbau der Lackschildlauskolonien ausführlich behandelt. Die Untersuchungen wurden an Lakshadia mysorensis, communis, nagoliensis und Metatachardia conchiferata (Lacciferidae, Coccoidea) durchgeführt, denen in Indien wirtschaftliche Bedeutung zukommt.

The Species of Lac Insect Studied by Comstock

With regard to the origin of the material which Comstock (1) studied in 1880 he says, “From a quantity of commercial stick lac purchased in New York I obtained specimens of an insect which I have no doubt is the Coccus lacca of authors.” Since the lac insects are cultivated like the silk worm in China or in Italy more information is necessary than the mere record of the locality and of the host plant. For example on Shorea talura in the Mysore State the insect, Lakshadia mysorensis , is cultivated while a few years ago the same tree bore an encrustation of Lakshadia communis which differs from the other in several respects. To those who still believe that there is only one species of lac the question does not arise as to the source of the material Comstock studied. However, it will be shown that a few authors confirm Comstock's findings because they also studied the same species while others do not as they were dealing with an entirely different insect.

Elasmus Claripennis Cam., a Hyper-Parasite of Lac Insects1

The lac insects responsible for the production of the well known article, shellac, are found over a large part of southern Asia. In India, where they are most found, they occur as far north as the valleys of Kashmir and down to the southernmost limit in the State of Travancore. In the west they are cultivated as an industry in Sind while eastwards they are similarly grown in the valleys of Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkhim, southern China, Assam and Burma down to Siam, Cambodia and Indo-China. They represent several species although not yet recognized by other workers in the field. It may be said without fear of contradiction that they have at least one common enemy which, to my knowledge, is also specific of lac insects, namely, the caterpillars of the moth Eublemma amabilis Moore.

The Alimentary Canal, its Appendages, Salivary Glands and the Nervous System of the adult Female Lac Insect, Laccifer lacca, Kerr (Coccidae)

SummaryOwing to the deposition of resin, the females assume two shapes, one somewhat circular in which the mouth-parts are situated ventrally about the middle of the body, and the other pyriform, in which the mouth-parts are situated at the extreme anterior end. In the former type of females the mouth-parts are posteriorly directed and in the latter anteriorly. The rostrum lies outside the body cavity between the anterior pair of oral lobes. The rostralis opens into the pharynx which lies in the tentorium. The oesophagus is elongated and passes into the colo-rectum to be succeeded by the convoluted ventriculus. The ventriculus on leaving the colo-rectum leads into the intestine, which is marked into the mid and hind intestine by the junction of the ampulla of the Malpighian tubes. The intestine after forming a loop round the greater part of the colo-rectum re-enters it close to the point of its commencement from it and continues closely attached to the outer side of the ventriculus from its distal to its proximal end; after this it comes out of the colo-rectum and runs alongside it to open into it near the anterior third of its length. The convolutions inside the colo-rectum are comprised of the ventriculus and the part of the hind intestine running outer to it. The “colon caecum” is absent. The colo-rectum opens at the anus situated at the posterior end of the insect and is divided into colon and rectum by the opening of the intestine into it.The salivary glands consist of two branches of ovoid and spherical bodies. The common duct of the salivary gland of each side runs close to the ventral ganglion and joins the opposite duct to form the terminal duct near its anterior end, which then opens into the pharynx.The nervous system consists of a bilobed cerebral ganglion which lies anteriorly to the mouth-parts in females in which the tentorium is directed posteriorly, and either laterally or ventrally to it in females in which the tentorium is directed anteriorly and lies at the extreme anterior end. The cerebral ganglion is joined by a pair of connectives to the ventral ganglion, which lies dorsal to the tentorium in females in which it is directed posteriorly, and posterior to the tentorium in which it is directed anteriorly and lies at the extreme anterior end. The ventral ganglion is followed by the nerve chord, which varies in length in either type of female. The main nerves arising from the central nervous system are described.

A Seljuq Koran Stand with Lacquer-Painted Decoration in the Museum of Konya

The word “lacquer” is derived from the Sanscrit laksha (the Prakrit form is lakkha), which is applied to a dyestuff and a resin obtained from the lac insect.2 The final product of the resin is shellac, which, dissolved in alcohol, furnishes a varnish.