Journal Article•
Studies on lac insect (Kerria lacca) for conservation of biodiversity in Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, India
TL;DR: In this article, an attempt has been made to study culture of lac in non-conventional method of cultivation in peripheral and buffer zones of Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) where farmers are practicing in a conventional way.
Abstract: The lac insect, Kerria lacca Kerr (Coccoidea: Homoptera) is well known for its valuable resin. It thrives on host plants like Palas, Kusum and Ber. An attempt has been made to study culture of lac in non-conventional method of cultivation in peripheral and buffer zones of Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) where farmers are practicing in a conventional way. The initial density of settlement of larva ranged between 92.58-126.74 no. /cm2 and 93.12-109.62 no. /cm2 in Kusmi strain on Kusum and Ber trees, respectively. For Rangeeni strain it was 82.67-118.32 no. /cm2. The sex ratio (male: female) was found to be 1:3 for all the crops, strains and host plants. The range of resin output per cell was 17.00-21.40 mg for winter crop and 19.00-25.60 mg for summer crop of Kusmi strain on Kusum and Ber plants. For Rangeeni strain on Palas plant it was 05.30-11.20 mg for rainy crop and 18.72 -23.00 mg for summer crop. Moreover, the temperature influenced the life cycle, life span and resin output of this insect. Pruning of trees meet the firewood requirement as fuel and also for household uses, also prevents deforestation and conserve the forest ecosystem. Lac insect has some vertebrate predators like monkeys, squirrels, rats, lizards, woodpeckers, birds and insect predators are Lepidopterans (Eublemma amabilis, Pseudohypatopa pulverea) and Neuropterans (Chrysopa madestes, C. lacciperda). So directly or indirectly lac cultivation helps in conservation of
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TL;DR: Most of these AOEs of scale insect species in China were found to be endemic sites for several other plants and animals and will provide important information for further studies on scale insects diversity in China.
Abstract: The identification of areas of endemism (AOEs) has been a major challenge in biogeography. In the present study, parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) was used to define the AOEs of scale insect species in China. A total of 11 Chinese scale insect endemic areas, Tianshan mountain (A2-B1), South Tibet (H2-H3), Eastern Qinling Mountain (E12-E13), Dalou mountain (G11-H11), West Yunnan (I9, J9-J10, K9), Hainan Island-South west Guangdong (M13-L14), South Guangdong (K15-K16), South Fujian (J17-J18), Center Zhejiang (H18-H19), Taiwan Island (K19-L19) and association of Henan and Hubei (F15-G16), had been identified based on a distribution database of 506 endemic scale insect species. The Chinese areas of scale insects endemism showed a remarkable mountain effect. Hainan and Taiwan islands showed considerable endemism. Moreover, most of these AOEs were found to be endemic sites for several other plants and animals. These results will provide important information for further studies on scale insects diversity in China.
6 citations
Dissertation•
01 Jan 2016
6 citations
27 Dec 2019
TL;DR: In this article, the authors highlighted the indigenous lac culture of Karbi community inhabiting West Karbi Anglong district of Assam and identified 114 knowledge holders through chain referrals method from three representative villages of Ameri Block for the study.
Abstract: The indigenous lac culture of Karbi community inhabiting West Karbi Anglong district of Assam is highlighted in this paper. A total of 114 knowledge holders were identified through chain referrals method from three representative villages of Ameri Block for the study. Karbis reared lac insects twice in a year on naturally growing host plants either in the forest areas or in homegardens. A total of eight unique host plants except Ziziphus mauritiana and Ficus religiosa were observed to be used by the community for rearing lac insect. They preferred bigger host plants such as , Ficus benghalensis , F. religiosa and Albizia lucidior due to higher lac yield and lesser labour requirement. An individual F. religiosa and F. benghalensis tree could produce about 120-200 kg of sticklac in a season. The average annual household production of sticklac ranged from 679 to 776 kg in the studied villages and contributed to about 25-30% of annual household income. Karbis traditionally use lac as natural dye, binding agent, polishing earthen pots and also as medicine for chest and joint pains. Factors like uncertain production, high fluctuation in market prices and unorganized nature of the venture have been identified as the major constraints for the sustainability and up-scaling the practice.
6 citations
TL;DR: The study finds out obstacles in lac production of India and suggests some control measures to improve lac producing peoples’ livelihood.
Abstract: In India, Madhya Pradesh is the third largest lac producing state after Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, as they contribute 12, 16 and 60%, respectively in total country’s lac production Lac is produced in ten out of eleven agro-climatic zones of Madhya Pradesh In total lac production of the state, Baisakhi (Butea monosperma, inoculated in October-November) crop contributes 76% followed by 19% by Katki (Butea monosperma, inoculated in June-July), 3% by Aghani (Schleichera oleosa, inoculated in June-July) and 2% by Jethwi (Schleichera oleosa, inoculated in January-February) Ranchi was leading lac producing district followed by Simdega, Gumla, Khunti of Jharkhand and Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh Increasing summer temperature up to 45 â°C, the country’s lac production was declined from 20,050 tons in 2003-04 to 16978 tons in 2014-15 In case of biotic factors, Tachardiaephagus tachardiae and Tetrastichus purpureus are the most abundant lac associated parasites and Eublemma amabilis and Pseudohypatopa pulverea are the most destructive key predators of lac insects By combating these hindrances, lac cultivation generated an employment for 16-160 man days Lac cultivation produces maximum gross return (Rs 9,77,600) from 100 Kusum host plants, and the highest Benefit-Cost (680) ratio was recorded for Ber-kusumi (Ziziphus mauritiana- Schleichera oleosa) crop in Ranchi, Jharkhand In this context, the study finds out obstacles in lac production of India and suggests some control measures to improve lac producing peoples’ livelihood
6 citations
Cites background from "Studies on lac insect (Kerria lacca..."
...The predators of lac insect include both vertebrate and invertebrate species (Mohanta et al., 2014; Shah et al., 2015)....
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: The population density of Lac insect was recorded by counting insects (later lac cells) per 2.5 sq cm on three branches per tree and at three fixed points per branches at 50, 62, 76 and 94 days after BLI.
Abstract: The population density of Lac insect was recorded by counting insects (later lac cells) per 2.5 sq cm on three branches per tree and at three fixed points per branches at 50, 62, 76 and 94 days after BLI. At 50 days after BLI, the mean population density of K laccaper varied from 44.95 to 50.28 in different treatments. There was significant difference in the mean population density of Lac insect in T3, T5 and T8 over T6. The former three were at par with each other. It was highest (50.28) in T3 Multiplex and lowest (44.95) in T6 Humic acid + Bolt acid + Bolt. At 62 days after BLI, the mean population density of Lac insect varied from 37.05 to 39.34 in different treatments but was at par among the treatments. It was highest (39.34) in T3 -Multiplex and lowest (37.05) in T2-Auskelp super. The mean population density of lac insects reduced at 76 days after BLI and it varied from 28.37 to 33.46. At 94 days after the BLI, the mean population density of lac also reduced in comparison to that on 50th day after BLI. It varied from 20.86 to 26.05 per 2.5 sq. cm. The mean population density of lac insect differed significantly in case of T3 – Multiplex over the Control (T8). It was highest (26.05) in case of T3, lowest (20.86) in T8.
5 citations
Cites background from "Studies on lac insect (Kerria lacca..."
...Mohanta et al. (2014) [21] observed that the initial density of settlement varied between 82.67- 118.32 sq cm which appears to be quite higher....
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: Promoting and encouraging lac culture will not only check environmental degradation but also conserve associated fauna and flora for posterity.
Abstract: Lac insects are exploited for their products of commerce, viz. resin, dye and wax. Cultivation of lac not only provides livelihood to millions of lac growers, but also helps in conserving vast stretches of forests and biodiversity associated with lac insect complex. The lac ecosystem is a complex multi-trophic web of flora and fauna; of the 87 species falling under nine genera recorded from the world, 19 species belonging to two genera, namely Kerria and Paratachardina are found in India. Lac insects thrive on more than 400 plant species generally growing in the forests which have varied economic, medicinal and social significance. Twenty-two species of lac predators, 30 species of primary and 45 species of secondary parasites, besides several fungal pathogens, represent a rich biodiversity of this ecosystem. Moreover, this natural lac complex also maintains a variety of other tree flora, macro fauna and soil microorganisms. Several of the insect fauna associated with lac insects are species-specific (exclusive to the ecosystem) and hence, loss of even one species of lac insect poses a danger of losing many other related species. Many lac insects and associated fauna have become endangered where lac cultivation has been abandoned or habitat destroyed. Promoting and encouraging lac culture will not only check environmental degradation but also conserve associated fauna and flora for posterity.
61 citations
"Studies on lac insect (Kerria lacca..." refers background in this paper
...Twenty two species of lac predators, 30 species of primary and 45 species of secondary parasites, besides several fungal pathogens, present a rich biodiversity of this ecosystem [18]....
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...Cultivation of lac not only provides livelihood to millions of lac growers, but also helps in conserving vast stretches of forests and biodiversity associated with lac insect complex [18, 2, 3, 4, 8, 13, 14]....
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...Several of the insect fauna associated with lac insects are species-specific (exclusive to the ecosystem) and hence, loss of even one species of lac insect poses a danger of losing many other related species [18]....
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01 Jan 1949
16 citations
"Studies on lac insect (Kerria lacca..." refers background in this paper
...As the lac insects are usually situated close together, the lac secretion from adjacent cells coalesces with each other and forms a continuous encrustation on the branches of host plant [11]....
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