Lac is the only known commercial resin of insect origin. Lac is the scarlet resinous secretion of the insect Kerria lacca. This important insect is also known by junior synonyms such as Laccifer lacca, Carteria lacca and Tachardia lacca. Thousands of these tiny insects colonize branches of suitable host trees and secrete the resinous pigment. The coated branches of the host trees are cut and harvested as sticklac. The harvest is broadly divided into three categories, namely Sticklac the raw material, Seedlac the semi processed material, and Shellac the finished product.