Introduction to Lac and Lac Culture - Birsa Agricultural University

INOCULATION OF BROOD LAC
Following aspects should be taken into consideration during inoculation operation:
(i) Pest -free healthy brood lac should be used.
(ii) Unwanted portions of the brood lac sticks should be removed.
Introduction to
Lac and Lac Culture
(iii) Bundles of brood lac (about 100 g. by weight) are to be prepared and put these bundles inside
60 mesh nylon netting bags (approx. size 30 x 10 cm.). These will entrap all the predators and
parasites but allow the lac larvae to come out.
(iv) The brood lac bundles are tied onto the branches parallel to shoots .
(v) One meter long brood lac is sufficient to inoculate 10-15 m. long shoots of equal length.
(vi) During the period of inoculation, there are chances of brood bundles falling off and one
should go round the inoculated trees in each branch and put such bundles back on the tree.
(vii) Attempts should be made to see that the brood lac bundles are not kept on the tree for more
that the minimum period required for complete inoculation. Ordinarily, this period will be
two to three weeks. If the brood lac is kept even after the lac larvae have completely emerged,
there is the danger of a larger number of enemy insects emerging from the empty (phunki)
brood lac sticks and infestating the field heavily.
Inoculation period in different lac crops
Strain Crops Normal inoculation Period
Rangeeni Baisakhi Oct. / Nov.
Katki June / July
Kusmi Ahgani June / July
Jethwi Jan. / Feb.
19