Cabbage Whitefly vs Lac Insect
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cabbage Whitefly | Lac Insect |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aleyrodes proletella | Kerria lacca |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Aleyrodidae | Kerriidae |
| Size | 1-1.5 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Forests |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa, Western Asia | Asia |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Cabbage Whitefly
A small white-winged insect that infests brassica crops, weakening plants with sap feeding and honeydew production. Populations have increased dramatically in European cabbage and kale crops.
Did You Know?
Unlike most whiteflies, it thrives outdoors in cool temperate climates rather than in tropical greenhouses.
Lac Insect
Produces lac resin — the raw material for shellac, used in wood finishes, food glazing, and pharmaceutical coatings. One of the few insects commercially farmed for a secretion.
Did You Know?
It takes roughly 300,000 lac insects to produce 1 kg of shellac — the coating on your shiny chocolate candy or pharmaceutical pill likely came from these tiny bugs.