Carmine scale insects (Margarodidae, Porphyrophora) of South-East Kazakhstan as a bioresource

Abstract

Eight species of carmine scale insects were found in the south-eastern Kazakhstan, four species of them are advisable to use for further economic use (Porphyrophora polonica, P. sophorae, P. violaceae and P. lappulae), two species (P. ketmeniensis and P. turaigiriensis) need for additional research, other two species (P. nuda and P. iliensis) have no significant economic impact. A preliminary list of 18 economically important populations of carmine scale insects was made. Carmine scale insects are basically an oligophagous and prefer steppe, dry steppe and desert habitats, the proportion of polyphages is inegligible. Parasites for the genus Porphyrophora were not detected, this is probably connected to the low life expectancy of adults, good protection of larvae and the presence the carmine acid in the hemolymph of scale insects, known for its antiseptic properties. Biotechnology production of carmine is expedient to develop in open and closed ground and through cloning tissue of scale insects that produce carminic acid. Porhyrophora sophorae and P. polonica are the most suitable species for artificial breeding.