Lac Insect vs South American Brown Stink Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lac Insect | South American Brown Stink Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Kerria lacca | Euschistus heros |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Kerriidae | Pentatomidae |
| Size | 1-3 mm | 10-13 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Underground |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Asia | Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
South American Brown Stink Bug
A dull brown shield bug and the most economically damaging stink bug in Brazilian soybean agriculture. It feeds on developing seed pods, causing major yield losses.
Did You Know?
A single bug feeding on a soybean pod for just one day can reduce seed weight by up to 20 percent.