Q.What is shellac?

Lac insects (Kerria lacca) secrete a resin called lac from glands under their skin while feeding on host trees; this lac is harvested and processed into shellac, which has wide commercial and industrial uses, making lac culture an economically important branch of applied zoology.

The lac insect is a scale insect that feeds on the sap of certain host trees (such as Palas/Dhak, Kusum, and Ber). While feeding, it secretes a resinous substance called lac from special glands, which hardens on the twigs of the host tree as encrustations. This raw lac is scraped off, cleaned, and processed to obtain shellac, which has several economic uses:

• As a natural varnish and in French polish, giving wood a glossy protective finish.

• In making sealing wax, used to seal letters and documents.

• As an electrical insulator, since shellac has good insulating properties, historically used in electrical components and old gramophone (phonograph) records.

• In making bangles, buttons, and other decorative articles, especially in traditional Indian craft industries.

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Lac, secreted by the lac insect (Kerria/Laccifer lacca), is the raw material for shellac used in varnishes, polishes, sealing wax and electrical insulation, and also yields dyes; lac culture is an important source of...

Lac culture supplies shellac (varnish/polish/insulation industry) and dyes.

Lac culture (lac cultivation) involves rearing the lac insect (Kerria lacca, also called Laccifer lacca) on suitable host trees, where the insects secrete a resinous substance that encrusts twigs. This raw lac is processed and refined into shellac, which has wide industrial use as an ingredient in varnishes, French polish and wood finishes, sealing wax, and as an electrical insulating material (owing to its non-conducting properties). Lac also yields natural dyes and colouring agents used in the text …