INSECT BIOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION, HOST PLANTS, NATURAL ENEMIES AND BIO-EFFICACY OF PESTICIDES AGAINST MAJOR PREDATORS OF LAC INSECT: A REVIEW

Lac is the valuable Resin secrete by the lac insect. India is major lac producing country about 80% of the total world production. Lac insects are exploited for their products of commerce viz., Resin, dye, and wax. Cultivation of lac not only to provided the livelihood to lac growers it is also helps in conserving vast stretches of forests and biodiversity associated with lac insect complex in India. Lac flourish about 113 varieties of host plants Palas, kusum, ber and khair ,etc for completing their life cycle. During its life cycle the insects spends only few hours of active after that they are prone to be attacked by many insects predators and parasitoids to damage lac crop. About 22 species of lac predators, 30 species of primary and 45 species of secondary parasites besides several fungal pathogens represents a rich bio-diversity of this ecosystem. Lac insects are more vulnerable to predators, parasitoids and other pests it losses about 35-40% in lac production. Different insecticides such as dichlorvos, cartap hydrochloride, ethofenprox, fipronil, carbosulfan, spinosad and others to control the predators and parasitoids of lac insects but Spinosad 2.5% EC is the most effective insecticide to control the major predators Eublemma ambilis and Pseudohypatopa pulverea of lac insects.