Research Article | Published: 31 March 2025

Entomofaunal diversity associated with the lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) in Maharashtra, India

Balram Lodhi, Aniruddha Majumdar and Arumugam Mohanasundaram

Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products | Volume: 32 | Issue: 1 | Page No. 32-37 | 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2025-X1230Z | Cite this article

Abstract

The present study documented the diversity of fauna associated with the lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) during October–December 2022, a critical maturity period of the rangeeni strain (Katki crop), when associated fauna emerge from lac encrustations and are easily detectable. Lac insect samples were collected from two major lac-growing districts and five non-lac-growing districts of Maharashtra (India), selected based on natural occurrence of lac insects on host plants. A total of 13 associated species were recorded, comprising five parasitoids, four predators, and four hyper-parasitoids. In lac-growing sites, associated fauna abundance ranged from 0.34–72.07%, with the parasitoid Tachardiaephagus tachardiae showing maximum dominance (72.07%), followed by Parechthrodryinus clavicornis (12.41%) and the predator Eublemma amabilis (10.69%). Shannon–Wiener diversity (H'), evenness (J), and dominance (D) indices were 0.97, 0.42, and 1.83, respectively. In non-lac-growing sites, fauna abundance ranged from 0.20–60.20%, with H', J, and D values of 1.18, 0.51, and 2.29. Lac-associated fauna significantly influence lac production, emphasizing the need for their identification and management to support sustainable lac cultivation and biodiversity conservation.

Keywords

Cultivation, Hyperparasitoids, Lac associated fauna, Parasitoids, Predator

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About this article

How to cite

Lodhi, B., Majumdar, A. and Mohanasundaram, A., 2025. Entomofaunal diversity associated with the lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr) in Maharashtra, India. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 32(1), pp.32-37. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2025-X1230Z

Publication History

Manuscript Received on 12 August 2024

Manuscript Revised on 12 March 2025

Manuscript Accepted on 19 March 2025

Manuscript Published on 31 March 2025

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