Study on Host Preference of Lac Insect Species Existing in Manipur

Lac insect, Kerria lacca kerr. is a boon of nature to mankind. Lac insect is of economic importance as it produces resin, wax and dye and its productivity, quality and quantity depends on the hosts on which it is cultivated. The investigation was carried out in the completely randomized block design with five hosts replicated three times to study the host preference of lac insect species existing in Manipur under greenhouse condition during katki season of 2019-20. The mean initial density of first instar nymph on hosts varied in different portions of hosts which ranged between 10-19, 10-20, 9-23 (crawlers per cm²) with the mean percentage of initial mortality 10-19%, 10-20%, 9-23% (per cm²). The mean final density of first instar nymph ranged between 94-115, 94-115 and 93-114 (crawlers per cm²). The density at maturity of female insects ranged between 2 -8, 2-9, 3-11 (cells per cm²). The mean weight of cell ranged from 8-24, 9-24, 8-23 (mg). The mean fecundity of insect ranged from 188-327, 197-317, 188-316 (eggs per cell). The mean scrapped lac yield ranged between 62-173, 66-170, 59-165 (g) respectively on upper, middle and lower portion. Based on the present investigation Flemingia macrophylla was found to be the most preferred host in Manipur region during katki season.

• Lac insect is a soft bodied insect belonging to Coccid group of order Homoptera.

• Rangeeni and Kusumi are the two strains of this insect, each of which produces two crops in a year (bi-voltine).

• Flemingia macrophylla and Flemingia semialata are available as wild hosts.