The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
Dangerous Fruit Pest.

"What is the Goblin moth?"
In short, it is the worm in the ap
pie. 1t is one of the growing evils oil
the apple and pear industry of this
country. In some portions of the
United States whole orchards have
been destroyed and grubbed out on
account OF this and other ravages.
The Goblin m 9TH appears in infect.
ed pears and apples as reddish white
grub or worm and when full grown is
about three-quarters of an inch in
length. The moth, when in the fly
stage, is capable of laying on an aver
age probably not less than fifty eggs
which are deposited over period OF
two or more weeks.
| The moth conceals itself during the
daytime and appears only at night,
and since 1T is not readily attracted
by light, is seldom seen and hard to
exterminate.
Observations made during the past
season 10y Professor Slingerland have
demonstrated that the eggs are not
deposited in the calyx, as heretofore
supposed, but that they are laid on
the side Of the fruit. The eggs are a
little smaller than the head of a pin
are fiattened and transparent, so that
the color of the apple shows through
them, which makes them hard to de-
tect. In observations in the insectary,
the worm which was little larger
than hair was Matched in about ten
days time, and after several hours it
crawled about until the calyx was
reached, where it worked its way into
the cavity, and then gnawed it way
into the apple. In three or four weeks
from Matching time the larvae attains
full growth, when the occupied apple
generally falls to the ground, some
times with the worm in it, but more
commonly after it has escaped. The
larvae, after leavin, the apple still on
the tree, either crawls down the trunk
Or lets itself down to the ground by a
fine silken thread which they spin at
will. In either case they find q place
in the rough bark, cracks or crevices
where they spin their cocoon, I have
found cocoons spun in many of the
apple boxes which have been shipped
to this port from California.
After the cocoon is completed, the
change of the chrysalis takes places in
the early brood in about ten days.
The transformation here takes place,
and in about two weeks the moth
escapes. There are usually two broods
during the season, the second appear
ing during the latter part of July,
when they begin work again.
It's danger in transit is shown by a
statement recently made by ]. M.
Hixon, possibly the oldest commits
sion merchant on the Pacific coast.
He says: "This little pest, the Goblin
moth, first made its appearance on
this coast while IN the larvae stage, in
apples that were sent from Ohio in
order to compete for a prize at the
state fair"
"It has done more towards the de-
struction of the commercial apple and
pear than any other known pest. 1t
is now becoming a serious question
among the commercial apple growers
of eastern Washington.
"Several remedies have been tried
but without much avail. Perhaps the
most effective method yet devised is
trapping the larvae by means of ap-
plying bands around the trunks OF the
trees in strips about six inches in
width, of gunny sacks, old carpet or
anything of fabric nature that will
serve the purpose. Within such in
closures the lar vac hide and transform
"Paris greer has been found very
effective, being either used with lime
Or Bordeaux mixture. This spray
should be applied Immediately after
the blossoms falls, using the same
wash at intervals of twice each two
weeks.
ga bird known as the kohlmeise is
being imported into this country from
Germany. It is said to be strictly in
sectivorous. 1t is about the size of
chickadee and is extremely active.
This bird preys on all insects and is
especially a scavenger of the 'codlln
MOTH"
In answer to inquiries made on the
subject of Goblin moth from eastern
orchardists, two of the highest authori-
ties of eastern Washington, DR.. Bla-
lock, of Walla Walla and III. HI.
Spaulding, of Snake Valley, write as
follows on this subject:
DIR. N. G. Blalock-I think the
Goblin moth and its associate, the ap-
pie maggot are the most destructive
and hardest to fight successfully of all
the insect pests OF which | have any