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. Sporadic 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 3£ cents per pound 

 wholesale, but by the time it readies the Indian it costs him nearly 6 

 cents a pound. He can earn 25 cents a day. 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. 



