Question

Life stages of male Laccifer lacca are:
(A) Egg
(B) Larva
(C) Pupa
(D) Adult
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A), (B) and (C) only
• B. (B), (C) and (D) only
• C. (A), (C) and (D) only
• D. (A), (B), (C) and (D)

Hint:

Male lac insects are rare (1:1000 sex ratio) - most larvae develop into sessile females.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Female lac insects skip the pupal stage entirely, but males do not.
Step 2: Male development runs through egg, then mobile and settled larval instars.
Step 3: Males then form a non-feeding pupa before emerging as a winged adult that dies after mating.
\[ \boxed{\text{(A), (B), (C) and (D)}} \]