Shellac, golden orange

Shellac is a resinous substance obtained by purifying the insect covering secreted by the lac scale insect (Laccifer lacca) and several related scale insects. Lac scale insects are cultivated in Southeast Asia and South Asia, including India and Thailand. Lac scale insects are a type of scale insect less than 1 cm in length that infest a relatively wide variety of trees in colonies. It is completely soluble in alcohol and resistant to other organic solvents. The blond-orange variety is particularly high quality.