Question

Lac insect is a_____
A. Symbiont insect
B. Commensal insect
C. Parasitic insect
D. Both A and B

Answer 1

Hint: Insects or Insecta is derived from a Latin word insectum. These are invertebrates which have six legs (hexapod). These are the largest group within the arthropoda phylum. Insects have a chitinous skeleton, antennae, three part body. Insects are one of the most diverse groups of animals.

Complete answer:
Lac Insects are the insects belonging to the family Kerridae are commonly known as lac insects or lac scales. Some members of these species are raised for commercial purposes, and the most commonly cultivated species is Kerria lacca.

These insects release a resin which is waxy in nature. It is harvested and converted commercially into lac and shellac which is used for various purposes such as dyes, cosmetics, wood finishing varnishes and polishes, etc.

The Indian lac insect is called Laccifer lacca. It is important commercially mostly seen in tropical regions on banyan and other plants. The females are in a globular form.

> Option a- Symbiont insect- Symbiont is the term which refers to organisms living in a symbiosis (Symbiosis means a close and long interaction or dependency between organisms of two different species).
Example- Lice, Fleas etc

> Option b- Commensal insect- A commensal is a term used for an organism that obtains food from the internal or the external environment of the host. It does not establish a close connection with the host, for example by feeding on its tissues. The commensal relation is often seen between a big host and a small commensal. The host organism is unchanged, whereas the commensal species have to adapt. Example- Barnacles, Birds etc.

> Option c - Parasitic Insects- A parasite is a term used for organisms that live and feed on a host. Lac insects live as parasites. They feed on the sap of trees and shrubs. The hosts for Lac insects are –Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), Palas (Butea monosperma) and Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) etc.

Hence, The correct answer is, option (C).

Note: Mutualism is a kind of symbiotic relationship which shows both species benefit. Example of mutualism involves goby fish and shrimp.
The almost blind shrimp and the fish spend most of their lives together. From their mutual relationship, the shrimp receives a warning of approaching danger and the fish gets a safe retreat and a place to lay its eggs.