92 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
[These were perfectly satisfactory, and were easily recognizable as the 
Zebra caterpillar (Mamestra picta, Harris), figured and described in 
Harris’s Insects Injurious to Vegetation, in the second report on the 
Insects of Missouri, and in the report of the Entomologist of the De- 
partment for 1883. From its conspicuous appearance, and from the fact 
that the caterpillars are gregarious when young, it is easily destroyed 
by hand picking. | 
LOCUSTS IN YUCATAN. 
Referring to my dispatch No. 70, dated November 27, 1882, and to 
Department instructions No. 65 and 75, dated, respectively, January 3, 
1883, and June 20, 1883, I have now the honor to report as follows: 
The flights of locusts reported by me in my No. 70 increased in size 
and numbers, and invested the whole country, where they have bred 
with astonishing prolificacy. The situation of affairs here is exceed- 
ingly grave. 
The whole country is now swarming with this insect in both the ‘’hop- 
per” state and as the perfect insect. Nothing escapes their voracity. 
For a time hopes were entertained that the henequen plant* would be 
free, but now everything is being destroyed. Lamentable stories are 
brought in daily of the utter destruction of promising corn, bean, and 
henequen fields of vast extent. The peculiar conformation of the coun- 
try renders any systematic and efficient warfare against them extremely 
difficult, if, indeed, practicable. Added to this is the natural “ laisser 
aller” and indifference of the ordinary Mexican. Sporadie outbursts of 
energy are seen here and there, but very little is thus accomplished. 
The State legislature some time ago passed a decree calling on every 
male inhabitant of the State to give one day’s work in each week to- 
wards killing locusts, or in lieu thereof 50 cents per week. 
The decree is good, but, so far as I can learn, it has not yet been put 
into effect. 
The results are already deplorable; cattle and horses are dying for 
want of food; the Indian who lives only on corn can no longer depend 
on the home crop, but must buy imported corn at the rate in city of 
Merida of $3.25 per “carga” of 94 pounds, say 34 cents per pound 
wholesale, but by the time it reaches the Indian it costs him nearly 6 
cents a pound. He can earn 25 centsaday. Part of this goes toward 
extinguishing his ever increasing debt to his employer, the remainder 
to provide for his great, hungry family. 
In 1881 there were imported into this State 549,626 bushels of corn; 
this year three times this quantity will be needed, and unless this plague 
be abated, Yucatan will very shortly have no henequen fiber to send 
* Agave sisalana. 
Tweets «ye w+ a ee 
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