Vikram1, Hemant Swami, Lekha, M.K. Mahla, Gaurang Chhangani and Sheenam Bhateja
Abstract
In the present study intensive surveys were undertaken in three state of arid western plains of India viz., Rajasthan, Gujrat and Haryana during 2021 to record the natural occurrence of lac insect and its prevailing host plants sites. A total of 15 different host plants under 11 genera from families i.e., Annonaceae, Rhamnaceae, Fabaceae, Moraceae were observed with live lac encrustation from 162 locations. Of these, family Moraceae comprised of highest number of species under different genera and Rhamnaceae family contributed least. During study the Ficus religiosa was the most abundant host. Among three states maximum host plants with the presence of lac insect were recorded in Rajasthan followed by Gujarat and Haryana. F. religiosa was the most abundant host constituting about 54.32 per cent abundance which was followed by Ziziphus mauritiana with 11.11 per cent abundance during 2021.The mean density of mature female cells of lac insect on different host ranged from 1.88 to 4.79 cells per sq. cm in three states. During the present study, colour variation of lac insects was also observed from 162 lac insect occurrence sites. Crimson, yellow and mix strains of lac insect have been reported from 82 (50.61 per cent), 60 (37.30 per cent) and 20 (12.34 per cent) sites, respectively during Baisakhi season, 2021.