鹿邑白蜡

    白蜡为鹿邑土特产之一，是雄性白蜡虫附在丛生三、四尺高的白蜡条上吸其津液而分泌的动物蜡。
      
    鹿邑生产白蜡已有四百多年的历史，始于明代末期。清代中叶已享誉全国，产地在县城近郊西北各村，民国年间，冯桥、段庄、大刘庄，小刘庄，于庄和大周寨一带，田野白蜡条连片成行，是产白蜡的中心。
      
    白蜡是白蜡虫的分泌物。蜡虫是白蜡条、白蜡树的寄生虫，虫从外地引进。每年的“小满”前后，蜡农即从湖北荆州购买蜡虫，蜡虫季节性强，贩运中必计时往贩，芒种前10日须到家，并当即放入“白蜡条”束中。如拖延时日，蜡虫在中途就会破壳而出，使贩运者无法收拾。故有“小满不在地，芒种不在家”之说。蜡由雄虫吮吸白蜡树汁后所泌。十月蜡熟，采下进行“盆制”加工。以蜡面隆凸如狮头，边有柳叶梗，底呈蟒皮纹，洁白如玉，光滑如镜者为上品。
      
    白蜡用途较广，是医药、纺织及制作摸型等工业的重要原料。药用“白蜡油”有祛风。止疼，化淤、消炎，收敛、生肌的作用，是治外伤的良药。对牲畜的创伤，人的恶疮，创伤等均有特殊疗效。
 

Luyi Insect Wax 

    Insect wax is a specialty in Luyi County, which is an animal wax made by secretions of male wax insects which is parasites of Chinese ashes and is introduced from other places before and after Lesser Fullness. It has a produced history of more than 400 years, which stems from the end of Ming Dynasty and becomes famous in the whole country in the middle of Qing Dynasty, when the producing areas are located in villages around the county.
      
    Insect wax has a wide usage. First of all, it is an important material for biomedical industry, textile industry, Die & Mould Industry and so on. Besides, medicinal insect wax oil has medical functions of relieving rheumatic pains, quitting aches, diminishing inflammation, restraining oneself, curing external hurts, etc. Furthermore, it has special curative effects on livestock’ hurts, human ulsers and wounds.