Question

Which lac secreting insect undergoes death after reproduction?
A. Male
B. Female
C. Worker
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Lac insect belongs to the group Hemiptera, Laccifer family that produce and secrete lac for protection over their bodies. Tachardia Lacca (also known as Laccifer lacca) is an insect that is commercially cultivated. In India and Bangladesh, it is primarily cultivated. The female insect is viviparous, developing around 1000 nymphs with black eyes, deep red in colour. All over the body, the larvae begin to secrete lacquer. Before reaching maturity, the insect moulds twice.

Complete answer: The commercially cultivated lac insect is Laccifer lacca. The female insect is viviparous, developing around 1000 nymphs with black eyes, deep red in colour. The larvae gregariously rest at the appropriate location of the host plant. The larvae begin to secrete lacquer around the body a day or two after settlement, except on the rostrum, spiracles, and on the tip of the abdomen. It is thus wrapped in a lac cell, which begins to increase steadily along with the insect's increase in size. Before reaching maturity, the insect moulds twice. Even though the females produce oval cells, the male larvae produce elongated lac cells. Larvae end up losing their wings, antennae, and eyes after the first molting and become bag-like. The larvae move on to a pseudo-pupal stage just after the 3rd moult. Males emerge and copulate and die with the females. The female larvae cannot regain appendages and continue to linger, become adults, and reproduce under the lac cell.
Hence, the correct answer is A, i.e., Male.

Note: Here on Indian subcontinent, 22 species belong to the genus Laccifer. In the food manufacturing, cosmetics, varnishing, and printing industries, etc., lac resin is being used. Used also for the creation of custom chalks, crayons, lipsticks, bottle sealers, etc. A minute, creeping, a scaly insect is a missing insect. Silk insects develop silk from cocoons. Poison insects are generally poisonous, and if not handled on time, their bite will lead to death. Honey insects assist in the processing of honey that is beneficial to humans.