Cultivation techniques of lac insects

I've tried to provide some information about the cultivation techniques of lac insects which have a commercial significance.

1. A Presentation on Cultivation Techniques on Lac Insects PRENSENTED BY- S.M . RAQUIB UDDIN KAWSHER ID NO .:19 ENTOM JJ-31M Reg.No.:43034 Session:2019-20 ASSIGNED BY- Mohammed Abul Monjur Khan Professor Department of Entomology Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh-2202

2. Cultivation Techniques of Lac Insect Selection of Suitable Host Plants The lac insects thrive on the sap of certain plants called lac hosts. Selected lac hosts should have the following characters- Fairly quick growing. Lower sap density. Well adapted to pollarding and A ble to withstand heavy infestation of the lac insects. So far, over four hundred species of plants have been recorded as hosts of lac insect which those are of importance from the commercial point of view are- Palas ( Butea monosperma ), Kusum ( Schleichera oleosa ), Ber ( Zizyphus mauritiana ).

3. Other minor important lac host plants are- Khair (Acacia catechu) Ghont ( Zizyphus zylopyra ) Barh ( Ficus bengalensis ) Peepal ( Ficus religiosa ) Arhar ( Cajanus cajan ) Galwang ( Albizia lucida )

4. Palas Kusum Ber

5. Lac cultivation on Flemingia semialata It is fast growing with high cropping response, bushy in nature and known for producing best quality of lac resin , this species can be promoted for intensive lac cultivation on plantation basis. Lac cultivation on Flemingia is very easy and cost effective compared with others due to its simple method of propagation, the waiting period of just one year, easy manageability and high rate of lac production . Flemingia semialata is also performs well along with intercrops.

6. Flemingia semialata (Lac host plant )

7. Selection of Suitable Site for Lac Cultivation The success of lac cultivation depends mostly upon site selection. Places with annual rainfall of about 75 cm with moderate temperatures are quit suitable. A warm and moderately dry climate is essential but extreme conditions are always harmful for its production. Free circulation of air around the host species should be ensured in the target site. Squirrels and rats cause a damage up to 50% of brood sticks. Squirrels are active during the day time and the damage by them is more common under forest condition . Rats are active at night time and the damage usually occurs near about the villages. So, places should be selected for lac cultivation where they do not exist. If soil of the selected site is found to be deficient in Calcium, lime may be added to make up the for the deficiency.

8. Preparation of Feeding Ground for Lac Insects Pruning means cutting away old, weak and disease branches for inducing the tree to produce maximum number of shoots for successful colonization by the lac insect . Pruning is done lightly, because light pruning avoids stunted growth and allows gradual increase in the frame of the tree. Branches more than 2.5 cm in diameter (more than thickness of one’s thumb) are not cut. Branches between 1.25 cm to 2.5 cm in diameter are cut, so as to leave behind a stalk of about 30-45 cm in length. Dead and diseased branches are removed, split or broken branches are cut below the split.

9. Two types of pruning are recommended for lac culture: 1. Apical/ light pruning Light pruning is recommended for slow growing conventional tree host species like palas , kusum and ber . Branches less than 2.5 cm diameter should be cut from base and branches more that 2.5 cm diameter should be sharply cut leaving a stump of 30-45 cm from the base Diseased and dead portion of branches should be removed completely. 2. Basal/heavy pruning Branches having less than 7 cm thickness are removed from the base, whereas thicker braches should be cut at a place where it has a diameter of 7 cm. In quick growing bushy host, heavy pruning should be done at a height of 10-15 cm from the ground level e.g. Flemingia macrophylla , F. semialata .

10. Light pruning Pruning of kusum trees under progress A complete pruned kusum tree

11. Pruning Time Pruning is generally done 6-12 months before inoculation of lac insect. The normal time of pruning is January-February if inoculation is to be done in June-July and pruning time is April-May is inoculation is to be done in October-November . Pruning time of some cultivated hosts of lac culture- Kusum ( Schleichera oleosa ) : Either in January / February or in June / July . Khair ( Acacia catechu) : Done in March . However, harvesting of lac crop during February may be used to serve as pruning also. Ber ( Zizyphus mauritiana ) or Palas ( Butea monosperma ) : Done in February for inoculation in July and in April / May for inoculation in October-November . Ficus spp. : Pruning is to be done in April for inoculation in July and in May for inoculation in October .

12. Collection of Brood Lac Lac sticks, having mature female insects ready to give rise to the next generation are called B rood lac . As the female lac insect is capable of giving rise to a large number of larvae and to get maximum benefit, it is essential that the brood should be cut at the proper time so as to secure the emergence of the maximum possible number of larvae from it . The best indication of the right time of cutting brood lac is when the lac cell is red in the anterior half and orange in the anal region .

13. Selection of Brood Lac After the brood lac has been cut from the plants, it is necessary to subject it to proper examination so that only healthy lac with the minimum signs of predator and parasite damage is selected for using as brood lac . This is necessary to minimize the chances of propagation of the insect enemies of lac insects.

14. Inoculation of Brood Lac Release of lac insect crawlers on the tender shoots of tree is called inoculation . Inoculation is the process by which newly hatched (brood) nymphs get associated properly with the host plants. This is done by tying brood lac sticks at different places on branches of host trees . Inoculation is two types- Natural inoculation and Artificial inoculation

15. Procedure Preparation of bundles of brood lac (about 100 g by weight) and putting these bundles inside 60 mesh nylon netting bags (Approximate size: 30 10 cm). The brood lac bundles are tied by means of a banana or jute fiber or paddy straw either single or in bundles of two or three sticks each and either longitudinally or interlaced between two host branches parallel to shoots. About 1 meter long brood lac is sufficient to inoculate 10-15 meter long shoots of equal length.  

16. Process of Lac Inoculation Sorting of brood lac Brood lac bundle ready for inoculation Single brood lac bundle tied with plastic string Brood lac pieces within 60 mesh net bag Brood lac in paddy straw Inoculation with net Inoculation without net

17. Phunki Removal The operation pertains to the removal of brood lac twigs used for inoculation purposes, and the used up brood lac after complete emergence of lac nymphs from female cells is called phunki removal . Ordinarily the emergence of lac larvae from this brood lac ceases after three weeks. The phunki lac is then scrapped off from the brood lac to avoid emergence of enemy insects. Phunki bundles are pulled down from the trees with the help of pole mounted Phunki hook or by climbing on trees.

18. Harvesting The process of collecting ready lac from host tree is known as harvesting . This operation is done any time after the appearance of yellow spot prior to emergence of lac insects. Usually pruning instruments such as secateurs or long handle tree pruners are used in harvesting. Harvested branches are collected and scrapped to get lac stick.

19. Mature lac crop ready for harvesting Yellow spots on female cells Brood Lac Sticks