HOST PREDILECTION STUDIES IN RANGEENI STRAIN OF LAC INSECT (KERRIA LACCA KERR)

Abstract

The host choice of Rangeeni strain of Kerrialaccaon ber, Palas and Arhar were carried out at the Department of Zoology, ZA Islamia PG
College, SiwaninKatki season, 2018 with objective of host preference on host plants varied which ranged from 31-112, 21-118 and 28-108 crawlers per sq.cm with the mean initial per cent mortality 12.31, 8.60 and 7.97; 12.49, 11.83 and 11.49 and 14.54, 14.43 and 13.17 per cent on upper, middle and lower parts of ber, palas and arhar respectively. The final density of settlement in first instar crawlers ranged from 37-112, 20-110 and20-100 crawlers per sq.cm on upper, middle and lower portion and density of female cells at maturity ranged from 2-9, 1-8 and 1-7 cells per sq.cm on host plant. The mean female cell size, weight of female cell, resin weight and sticklac
yield were recorded as 2.13, 1.81 and 1.47 mm; 22.54, 19.39 and 17.15 mg; 20.92, 17.82 and 15.57 mg and 3.69, 1.08 and 1.73 kg in host plants, respectively during Katki season, 2018.