Question

Write a short note on ‘lac culture’.

Answer 1

a. Lac is a pink coloured resin which hardens on coming in contact with air forming lac.
b. Tacchardia lacca is most commonly used for lac culture.
c. Lac insects feed on succulent twigs of certain plants like Ber, peeple, palas, kusum, babool, etc.
d. Natural lac is always contaminated, so washing and filtering is needed to obtain shellac in pure form.
e. India contributes upto 85% of total lac production in world.
f. Lac is the byproduct of lac culture which is used in bangles, toys, woodwork, polish inks, silvering mirrors etc.

Answer 2

1. Lac is produced by an insect Tachardia lacca, which is quite small in size and colonial inhabit.
2. The resin-like substance is produced by the dermal glands of female lac insects.
3. The insect feeds on succulent twigs of certain plants like ber, peepal, palas, Kusum, babool, etc., and secretes pink coloured resin, that hardens on coming in contact with air forming lac.
4. Lac is a complex substance having a large amount of resin together with sugar, water, minerals, and alkaline substances.
5. Natural lac is always contaminated.
6. Shellac is a pure form of lac obtained by washing and filtering.
7. Products of lac play a vital role in the economy of the farmers.
8. Lac is used in bangles, toys, woodwork, inks, mirrors, etc. ix. Production of lac requires an artificial inoculation of plants which gives a better and regular supply of good quality and quantity of lac.