About Lesson
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 moults.
- After first moult they loose their antennae legs and eyes.
- These appendages are again developed after second moult.
- Nymphs are encaged in their own secretion and cell size increases with the increase in the growth of lac insect.
- Nymphal stage lasts for about two months.
c) Adults:
- A short time after emergence, mating takes place and female continues laying eggs.