A comparative report on the extent of parasitisation on fecundity of two strains of lac insect, Kerria lacca Kerr (Homoptera: Tachardiidae)

Kavita Kumari^a, K K Gupta^a & K K Sharma^b
aP. G. Department of Zoology, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag, Jharkhand, India.
^bLac Production Division, Indian Institute of Natural Resin and Gums, Namkum, Ranchi-10, Jharkhand, India
Received 11th May, 2011; Revised 19th August.,2011

Abstract : Quality of the broodlac is determined by the fecundity of the lac insects as well as freedom from predators and parasites. Mean fecundity varied between 164 in rainy season (katki) crop to 209 in summer season (baisakhi) crop of rangeeni strain and between 101 in winter season (aghani) crop to 193 in summer season (jethwi) crop of the kusmi strain. Fecundity of lac insect is adversely affected by parasitisation. The Extent of parasitisation varied between 15.5% in summer season (baisakhi) crop to 18.6% in rainy season (katki) crop of rangeeni strain. While for kusmi strain it was 19.04% in winter season (aghani) crop and 22.8% in summer season (jethwi) crop. Thus as the number of parasites in each cell increases, a correspondence decrease in fecundity count was noticed.

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