LAC

LAC =Kerria lacca [tam அரக்கு]

So far we have been discussing medicinal plants. Now, we turn attention to ‘lac ‘an animal product. To be precise, it is a secretion by an insect Kerria lacca  . The insect produces a kind of wax and red dye. Both these are commercially valuable and ‘lac’ enjoys value in several continents. Actually, the larval stages of the insect are important. They feed on plant sap [juice] by piercing the stem and suck the juice. Thereafter they seal the tubular hole by the wax they produce

These insects and their larvae live on several plants [trees] including the shrubby Zizyhus  [Ber in Hindi and Ilandhai in Tamil] At least 400 species of  plants are known to house these insects –said to be of 2 different strains [types]. A surgeon John Kerr was the one to identify the insect which was later named Kerria in honor of the surgeon.

Lac production is on an Industrial scale by farming lac insects. India produces 20, 000 metric tons of raw lac annually. Globally, there is a growing demand for lac products. For the common man, lac is used to seal postal articles sent by registered post/parcel and important Government offices, Treasury and strong rooms are sealed by lac to ensure that none can enter the premises without damaging the seal.

Lac cultivation in Vietnam has indeed helped re-forestation of mountain terrains and has improved the economic prospects of those tribes.

Lac is used in the manufacture of a range of wood polishes and coloring agents that are used in dyeing wool and silk fabric. A red colored dye is obtained from [Haemolymph] the blood of the insect. So, there is a rapidly expanding demand for lac that supports several products.

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