Life Cycle of Lac Insect ( Kerria lacca)

This insect passes through a gradual metamorphosis and has three different stages:

a) Eggs:

• Oviposition starts just after mating.
• Eggs are laid in cells inside in crustation.
• A female lays 300-1000 eggs and dies soon after oviposition.
• Eggs start hatching within a few hours.

b) Nymphs:

• They thrust hair-like proboscis up to the phloem of host plants and derive their nutrition.
• Once settled, they do not move about.
• Nymphs have 3 molts.
• After the first molt, they lose their antennae legs, and eyes.
• These appendages are again developed after the second molt.
• Nymphs are engaged in their own secretion and cell size increases with the increase in the growth of lac insect.
• The nymphal stage lasts for about two months.

c) Adults:

• A short time after emergence, mating takes place and the female continues laying eggs.