THE INDIAN FOREST RECORDS. 
Vol. I 
1907 
Part I 
A Note on the Lac Insect (Tac- 
hardia lacca), its Life History, 
* Propag^ation and Collection. 
By E. P. STEBBING, F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 
Imperial Forest Zoologist 
INTRODUCTION. 
C ONSIDERABLE attention has of late been paid to the subject 
of lac owing to the great value of the exports of this product as 
compared with the small forest revenue reahzed from the source. The 
total value of the export of lac from Indian maritime ports during the 
year 1905-06 reached the amazing sum of 3,31,39,786 or nearly 3| crores 
of rupees. The attention focussed on lac as an article of commerce has 
resulted in questions being raised as to the possibility of improving the 
quality of the article by the adoption of better methods of collection. 
The examination of these methods has led naturally to enquiries as to 
the manner in which the lac is formed and as to the best periods, from 
a mercantile point of view, at which it should be collected. Such queries 
go at once home to the root of the whole matter : into the method of 
formation or deposition of the material known as ‘ lac ’ upon the twigs 
of the trees upon which it is found and the manner in which it is collected 
from the trees and sent to the factory. 
That lac is the product of an insect is now well known, but consi- 
derable ignorance exists as to the manner in which it is produced. To 
understand this latter a thorough acquaintance with the hfe history of 
the insect is indispensable. It is one of the objects of this note to des- 
cribe in a simple manner the various stages in the hfe of this valuable 
scale and to suggest measures by which its cultivation and collection 
may be both increased and improved. Its distribution and abimdance 
in the different parts of the country will also be dealt with. 
74 R. & A 
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