Negi, P.S., Misra, M.P., & Gupta, S.N. 1930 Ants and the lac insect (Laccifer lacca).. Journal, Bombay Natural History Society 34: 182-188.

Notes: Eight species of ants are listed here, in addition to those previously recorded. A brief description of the relations of various species of ants to the lac insect is given. Ants in general are not injurious to the lac insect, but some species undoubtedly pick up the crawling lac larvae and the male insects. At the same time, all of them are useful to the lac insect as they remove the excreted "honeydew", which otherwise mixed with dust in the absence of rains is likely to block the respiratory organs of the lac insect, and cause its death by suffocation. In addition, many of them and especially Camponotus compressus and S. geminata, help the lac insect by feeding on the larvae of the predator moths. The use of cheap molasses is suggested to prevent the access of ants to the lac insect in places where they are suspected of being harmful chiefly during larval and male emergence.