Enlist the Entomological industries, their role in resource generation, economic value, effective role of Entomologist in these industries?
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ENTOMOLOGY INDUSTRIES: INTRODUCTION: Insects are the most numerous animals inhabiting this earth. They have largely earned the reputation of being harmful. This is due the fact that less than 1% of the insect population is harmful. Insects owing to their tremendous adaptations to diverse habitats have much to offer to us for technological advances in all areas of our lives. Other than the known evidences of silk, honey and Lac production, insects have much to offer in the field of food, pharmaceuticals, different therapies, weed and pest management, etc. Now we should start respecting the things that insects have to teach. Then, to convert these lessons into breakthroughs aimed at improving human life while protecting our environment. Most important industries include; Lac culture, Apiculture and Sericulture (Barlow, 1982). LITERATURE REVIEW: A study conducted on beneficial importance of insects stated that only 1% insects are harmful actually. Insects had played and are still doing very important role in medicine, Poultice made by meshing the body parts of Grasshopper (Orthoptera) to cure Migraine. They also play an important role as a food. Countries including China use insects as proteinaceous diet. They have aesthetic value such as artists (pottery makers), etc. get inspiration from colors and patterns of wings of insects of aesthetic value. Insects also act as scavengers. They help in decaying of dead plants and animals, e.g. Blowflies feed on dead animals. They also act as environmental indicator, e.g. caddis fly can only live in fresh water which means less population of caddis fly identifies water toxicity. The most important one is pollination by insects which leads female plant to grow fruits. Hence insects are crucial components of an ecosystem. Economically, they are categorized into various Entomological Industries such as Sericulture, Apiculture and Lac culture . COMPARATIVE STUDY; BETWEEN LAC CULTURE, APICULTURE AND SERICULTURE: LAC CULTURE: The term “Lac” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Laksha” . It means a hundred thousand and it is suggestive of the large number of insects involved in its production . Lac is the resin. It is a protective secretion, produced by insect called Laccifer lacca. They secrete brown color resinous substance called the Lac. The minute red-colored larvae of this insect, settles on shoots of host plants. While growing of Lac insects, resinous material is secreted. This material covers them. Rearing of Lac insects for commercial production of the Lac is called as Lac culture (Chattopadhyay, 2011).