Relative and Mean Density of Natural Enemies and Storage Pests associated with Lac Insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr) in Arid Western Plains

Author: Dipali Samridhi, Hemant Swami, Anil Vyas, Sheenam Bhateja and Vikram

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Abstract

Lac insect (Kerria lacca) is an economically important scale insect belonging to family Tachardiidae and order Hemiptera. It secrets resin which is used for the production of various artifacts. Large number of insects are found to be associated with lac insect that cause a huge loss to lac production as they feed on both lac insect and lac encrustations. Lac encrustations are heavily infested by insect pests in various parts of country including Arid Western Plains. Minute parasitoids and storage pests associated with lac insect are difficult to distinguish, therefore, there is an insufficient knowledge on the relative abundance of different natural enemies and storage pests associated with lac insect which restricts their effective management and hinders lac production in the region. A proper knowledge on the relative and mean densities of insect fauna infesting lac insect will help in the identification of most damaging insect pest fauna for its effective management. Hence the present study was carried out to find the relative density and mean density of different insect fauna associated with lac insect in Arid Western Plains, during 2022. Relative density of natural enemies and storage pests was maximum in Rajasthan followed by Haryana and Gujarat contributing 46.31, 34.73 & 18.94 per cent and 38.67, 33.53 & 28.09 per cent, respectively. The mean density of both natural enemies and storage pests was maximum in Haryana followed by Gujarat and Rajasthan with 1.43, 1.38 & 0.97 and 2.39, 2.11 & 1.42, respectively. Among natural enemies, relative and mean density both was recorded the maximum for primary parasitoids followed by predators and hyperparasitoids with 56.84, 38.42 & 4.73 per cent, respectively and 0.60, 0.40 & 0.05, respectively. Among storage pests, both relative and mean density was maximum for individuals of Liposelidae followed by Curculionidae and Silvanidae with 84.40, 15.50 & 1.20 per cent and 1.53, 0.28, 0.02, respectively.

Keywords

Kerria lacca, lac, relative density, mean density, predators, primary parasitoids, hyperparasitoids

Conclusion

Among the insect fauna associated with lac insect (Kerria lacca) the maximum relative and mean densities of 56.84 per cent and 0.60 was recorded for primary parasitoids (Encrytidae & Eulophidae) which was followed by the predators (Noctuidae & Blastobasidae) and hyperparasitoids (Braconidae) with relative densities of 38.42 & 4.73 per cent and mean densities of 0.40 & 0.05, respectively. The relative density of the natural enemies which emerged from the collected lac samples was maximum with 46.31 per cent in Rajasthan followed by 34.73 per cent in Haryana and 18.94 per cent in Gujarat whereas, mean density of natural enemies was maximum of 1.43 in Haryana and was followed by 1.38 & 0.97 in Gujarat & Rajasthan, respectively. Among storage pests a high relative density was recorded for individuals belonging to family Liposelidae followed by Cuculionidae and Silvanidae with 84.40, 15.50 & 1.20 per cent, respectively.

References

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How to cite this article

Dipali Samridhi, Hemant Swami, Anil Vyas, Sheenam Bhateja and Vikram (2023). Relative and Mean Density of Natural Enemies and Storage Pests associated with Lac Insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr) in Arid Western Plains. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(6): 342-347.