Lac
（重定向自Laccifer lacca）
![Lac tubes created by Kerria lacca](/Images/godic/202501/23/Kerria-lacca0552.jpg")
![Resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees is processed and sold as dry flakes.](/Images/godic/202501/23/Shellac_varities0552.png")
![Pongam or Honge (Millettia pinnata) is a native of India and grows in profusion, generally planted as avenue trees by the forest department. It's renowned for its shade and is well known in traditional uses for its medicinal properties. It is also grown as a host plant for lac insects. The tree is also one of the food plants for Common Cerulean (Jamides celeno).](/Images/godic/202501/23/Pongamia_pinnata0552.jpg")
Lac is the scarlet resinous secretion of a number of species of lac insects, of which the most commonly cultivated species is Kerria lacca.
Cultivation begins when a farmer gets a stick (broodlac) that contains eggs ready to hatch and ties it to the tree to be infested. Thousands of lac insects colonize the branches of the host trees and secrete the resinous pigment. The coated branches of the host trees are cut and harvested as sticklac.