A. Species
Scientific name: Laccifer lacca
Common name(s): Lac beetle, Lac bug
Global IUCN Red List Threat Status:
B. Location of use
Geographic location(s):
- Lesser Sunda Is.
Country/Region: Indonesia / Sunda Islands / Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT)
C. Scale of assessment
Scale of assessment: Sub-national / Sub-region / Sub-State
Name/Details of location: Nusa Tenggara Timur / Alor
D. Timescale of use
Start Year: 2012
End Year: 2019
E. Information about the use
How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from the wild but reared/cultivated in a managed site
Type of use: Extractive
Practice of use: Collecting or harvesting parts or products from wild animals (e.g., eggs, wild honey, vicuna fibre)
Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal and Non-Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of: Only parts or products of the organism
Purpose(s) of end use: Medicine and hygiene, Decorative and aesthetic, Materials and construction and Produces shellac resin, used in paints and varnishes, cosmetics, food additive, candles, electrical wire insulation and textiles
Motivation of use: Income generation from trade (individual/household/community)
Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law
F. Information about the Users
Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people and National / local private sector
G. Information about the sustainability of use
Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from the wild but reared/cultivated in a managed site
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable
Details of assessment carried out: According to background reported in this study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Black and red ant pest species (Dolichoderus thoracicus and Catoblema sumbavensis) predate lac beetle eggs, severely reducing numbers - Alor is the only location where lac beetle cultivation remains viable in NTT. The study does present methods for controlling ant predation, in an attempt to rescue this industry.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Due to ants predating on lac beetle eggs and larvae, the cultivation of lac beetles is under threat, ecologically, and so production is in decline, reducing socio-economic benefits. The study mentions that 3,217,294 Kg of lac was produced in NTT in 2005, but this fell dramatically to just 73,700 Kg by 2007. The study explains that demand for seedlak, both for domestic needs and for exports, continues to increase every year with a fairly high selling price. However, this demand for shellac (seedlak) cannot been fulfilled because production is low due to pests that affect the cultivation of L. lacca, and due to limited technology and lack of additional nutrients or fertilizer involved in this low cost, basic cultivation method.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Due to ecological unsustainability (pests) and the inability to meet economic demand, livelihoods that depend (in part) upon shellac harvesting are in jeopardy.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Shellac is used extensively in cosmetics, etc, although some of the products it contributes to (paints, varnishes) can have an overall toxicity.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Health and welfare criteria don't really apply to beetles.
Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species
Dirty (engine) oil has been used to control ant pests, blocking access along stems, but this also adversely affects lac beetles and reduces resin yield. 'Fogging' can be used to control black ants. Another recommendation is to use biological pesticides such as Kurstaki Bacilusthurigiensis to eradicate Chrysopa predatory ants, as used to safeguard L. lacca beetles in India. The study suggests that production could be enhanced by applying more advanced technology to production, harvesting and processing, and by using fertilizer inputs to increase production.
Record source
Information about the record source: scientific_pub
Date of publication/issue/production: 2019-01-01T00:00:00+0000
Source Reference(s):
Date of record entry: 2022-12-15