What resin is secreted by India's female Kerria lacca insect, used in old 78rpm records and a cosmetic nail treatment?
Kerria lacca lac resin which identifies acetyl-CoA as a common precursor molecule and the role of prenyltransferases in the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes along with cytochrome P450 enzyme. Kerria lacca Kerria lacca is a species of insect in the family Kerriidae, the lac insects. These are in the superfamily Coccoidea, the scale insects. This species is perhaps the most commercially important lac insect, being a main source of lac, a resin which can be refined into shellac and other products. This insect is native to Asia. "K. lacca" also produces a dye and a wax as natural secretions. The life cycle of this
Kerria lacca insect that are characterized by aspects of their life cycle and their host plant preferences. Natural enemies of this species include several parasitoids, such as the parasitoid wasps "Tachardiaephagus tachardiae" and "Coccophagus tschirchii". Predators include the moths "Eublemma roseonivia" and "Holcocera pulverea". These moths can interfere with lac cultivation in India. These insects, as well as many types of fungal pathogens, form an ecological web that is important to local biodiversity. "K. lacca" has been reported as a pest insect. It is reared on ber trees ("Ziziphus mauritania"), but these trees are also cultivated for fruit, the Indian jujube. "K.