Study of biological and productivity linked parameters of Kerria lacca (KERR) infested on Zizyphus mauritiana

The present study was conducted to investigate the host plant Zizyphus mauritiana Lam. for lac cultivation in Punjab during Katki and Baisakhi crop, 2019–20. Average initial density of settlement was 32.17±4.42 and 45.70±1.45 crawlers/cm² respectively. Mean per cent mortality of crawlers ranged between 18.84–26.86 and 29.43±.62 per cent in Katki and Baisakhi season. The per cent male emergence was 18.87±1.36 and18.60±1.75 in Katki and Baisakhi crop, respectively. The density of female cells at crop maturity was 4.67±0.30 and 5.13±0.31 female cells/cm² in Katki and Baisakhi crop, respectively. Mean female weight ranged from 7.59–15.88 and 7.84–8.80 mg with resin output of 7.02±0.28 and 8.04±1.21 mg during Katki and Baisakhi season. The overall life period of females was 108.67±0.88 and 229.9±1.41 days, respectively, in Katki and Baisakhi crop. In the Katki crop, the brood lac yield was 245.42±2.46 with scrapped lac 30.65±0.90g; however, it was 317.00±17.44 and 37.40±1.01g in Baisakhi crop, respectively.