HISTORY OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN LOCUST PLAGUE SCHISTOCERCA PICEIFRONS PICEIFRONS (WALKER) IN MEXICO

Abstract

From the historical point of view, there are references from the Aztecs and the Mayans where the
presence of locusts is mentioned. The name given by these cultures to the locust plague was "Zaak,
this organism was very feared due to the problems of lack of food that they caused. For example, it
is considered that the destruction and extinction of empires such as the Toltec and the Maya were
greatly influenced by the locust, later in colonial times; reference is made to the presence of this insect
in different accounts of the chroniclers. In Mexico since 1824 the locust was declared a national
plague and it is from this year that provisions are established to combat this plague. The present
investigation summarizes this story.