The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-04-05
TO ELIMINATE GOBLIN MOTH
WITHIN NEXT THREE YEARS
Prediction of Compere, Discoverer of the
Parasite that Kills the Fruit
Destroyer.


ifornia with the recently discovered nat
ural enemy of the codling moth result
as it seems certain they will, and the
predictions of the French scientist, Geo.
Compere, who discovered the parasite,
prove to be true, the orchardists of the
state of Washington may rest easy in
regard to the future of their orchards,
and of the fruit industry, so far as the
eodling moth is concerned. An article
in recent issue of the San Francisco
Call on the important discovery was as
follows:
George Compere, just back from Eu-
rope, the discoverer of the parasite that
kills the dreaded codling moth, declar-
cd while inspecting the work of the par.
asite at the rooms of the State Board
of Horticulture, that in three years and
probably less, the codling moth will have
been practically destroyed in California.
Nature prevents the determination Of
. type. The codling moth will still re-
main, but only in sufficient numbers to
feed and keep alive its active and dead
y enemy.
The ravages of the codling moth in
The United States, according to the de-
Dartment of agriculture, cost the apple
growers Sll 100000 annually. The loss
on the apple crop of California from this
cause is fully so per cent. of the whole
each year. Consequently the strong af-
Aymation of Compere on this subject
has great interest.
Compere has circlcd the world in his
search for beneficial parasites half a
dozen times or more. Bronzed by the
SUNS of ardent climates and by the winds
81 the seas until he is as dark as an In
dian.
"The parasite of the codling moth"
he said, 1T discovered in Spain. It also
exists in France. In these two countries
II successfully controls the codling moth
80 that the percentage of loss to the ap-
pie growers by reason of its depreda-
tisas is small. In every orchard in
Spain and France where the codling
moth exists the parasite is giving con-
siAual proof of its efficiency as de-
stSoyer. Nature uses its own methods
70 destroy. BY the way, it is an inter
esting fact that there is no instance on
record where an insect pest has been
permanently and successfully checked
by any artificial method.
"How do know that the parasite will
be ss efficient here as it is in Europe!
THAT is easy. Look at this jar. Here
Is the codlng moth worm; here is the
parasite stabbing him to death. In the
last minute five of the worms have been
killed by the parasite while have been
watching. The climatic conditions of
California 80 closely resemble those of
Spain and France as to be almost iden-
tical. Undoubtedly the parasites thrive
in any temperature where apples ripen.
Then Mr.. Compere talked about the
demonstration of the utility of the ben.
ehcial insects in exterminating insect
pests already afforded by experiments
in California. Parasites imported have
brought under control the cottony
cushion scale that once threatened to
destroy all the citrus fruit south of Te-
hachapi the soft brown scale, another
Of thu p.t fr,,sks. bo
scale. also citrus fruit enemy; the So
called San Jose scale, that attacked de-
ciduous fruits; the black scale, the brown
apricot scale and the Plusia Brassica, or
cabbage moth. On his present trip Mr..
Compere also brought with him from
abroad the Pieris Rapae, which destroys
the cabbage worm.
While Compere talked the codling moth
parasites in multitudes displayed un-
common agility and rapacity in score
or so of glass jars that stood in the
rooms. With lightning like speed the
parasite plunged it's napier again and
again through the bark of the prepared
tree limbs, which, with perforated bark.
shield from view and give the codling
moth worm chance to spin coccoons. At
each onslaught of the parasite a codling
moth died, and the eggs of the parasite
were deposited.
"The work has actually begun in the
orchards said Compere, Gas already re-
ported in the Call. "Never again will
California be without the codling moth
parasites. The breeding will be very
rapid. To stop the work of the para
site would be no more possible than it
would he to sweep back the broad Pa
cifc with broom. The parasite has
come to stay, and will multiply in mill
ions. OF all predatory insects that de-
stroy fruit, the most generally distrib-
uted is the codling moth. It is in Eu-
rope, all over the United States and in
Australia.