The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1898-01-27
CONTROLLING THE GOBLIN MOTH.

The recent agitation in favor of intro
ducing the Great Titmouse, Of Europe,
into this state, or as the Germans call it.
| the KOhlmeise, as a means of controlling
the Goblin Moth, has met with wide ap-
proval, and an optimistic opinion seems
to prevail that "wormy" apples in this
region would quickly become rarities if
we could only get this bird established
among us. There is however another side
to the question which cautions us to MAKE
haste slowly in this matter. A recent let
ter from DIR. C. Hart Merriam, chief of
the government biological survey, has the
following to say in regard to the Kohl
meise:
.Briefly stated, reports vary as to the
value of this bird. Some eminent Ger
man authorities claiming that it is bene-
fetal species, particularly useful in de-
stroying the Goblin Moth. Several Eng
fish writers on the contrary, among them
the eminent ornithologist, w. B. Teget-
meier, assert that the Great Titmouse
does considerable damage to pears and
other fruit. We have no evidence to show
that the bird feeds to any extent on the
Goblin Moth, and since it is alleged to in
| iure fruit, we should not advise its intro
duction, ut least until it is conclusively
| shown that the species is not injurious.
| 1t is difficult to see what is to be gained
| by the Introduction of the Kohlmeise as
| there are at least four or five native Tit
mice of the same genus in your state there
| is always danger that exotic species will
| increase beyond bounds when brought in
to new region, and the familiar exam
pies of the English Sparrow in this coun-
| try and the Mongoose in Jamaica, should
make us cautious about introducing any
bird or mammal which is likely to be-
come a pest instead Of an aid to the horti-
culturiSt."
| If, as has been stated by some horticul-
turists, it is true that the Goblin Moth is
not serious pest i'll Germany, it would
be helpful to know what agents hold the
insect in control; but evidently the claim
that the Kohlmeise is the principal des-
troyer of it lacks sufficient evidence. On
this account, rs we'll as the rep,ltod fruit
destroying habits of the bird, DIR. Merri-
ANS adverse opinion is entitled to much
consideration.
Though the Goblin Moth is one of the
| most destructive Of insects and causes
nearly as much complaint as all others
combined, it is safe to say that not one or
chardist in twenty-five has ever seen the
adult moth. So shy and retiring is the
insect i'll its habits that only by the clos
est search can it be found even when
abundant. BY rearing the larvae, how
ever, the moth}can easily be obtained. All
that is necessary is to pat the infested ap-
pies in a jar over which a piece of cause
is tied. When fully grown the worm"
or larva leaves the apple an3 in q shelter
ed place builds a thin brownish cocoon
in which it changes into a pupa. Ten days
later the moth energies. 1t is a beautiful
lutte creature, the wings being chocolate
brown in color; barred and streaked with
paler grayish bands. ItWould we'll repay
every Orchardist to raise few of the
adult moths, just to be able to recognize
them. A good many orchardists labor
yet under the impression that the moths
that fly about lights at night are the
adults of the apple worm; an error that
has led more than one fruit grower to put
in expensive light traps to catch them. 1t
is true that the Goblin Moth flies mainly
at night, but it is never attracted to, but