[Note: This entry was previously goldenrod bug.]
goldenrod grub n Also goldenrod, ~ bug, ~ gall worm (or grub), ~ worm, goldy (grub) esp MI, WI Cf weed worm n b
An insect larva, usu of the goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis) or the goldenrod gall moth (Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis), that is found in galls on stems of goldenrod n 1 and often used as ice-fishing bait.
1938 Detroit Free Press (MI) 6 Feb sports sec 7/8, On a nearby lake we found Guy Donnell, of Pontiac, baiting his hook with goldenrod grubs. He had the galls laying out on the ice, cut in halves, with the little white grub in clear sight. . . The galls are swellings on the stalks, about the size of a hazelnut. 1939 MI Dept. Conserv. Fisheries Research Rept. 532.6, There are two species of goldenrod gall worms. One is the larva of a moth; the other is the larva of a fly. The latter is found most frequently. 1949 Detroit Free Press (MI) 16 Jan sec C 4/6, Best of the baits is the goldenrod grub. [1953 Schultz Notes Live Baits 68 MI, Bait dealers do not like to handle the ball gall, E[urosta] solidaginis, because it is so frequently empty; but many dealers stock stick galls, G[norimoschema] gallaesolidaginis.] 1961 Portage Daily Reg. (WI) 20 Dec 6/1, [Advt:] Live fish bait—red worms—grain worms—goldenrod bugs. 1968 WI State Jrl. (Madison) 8 Dec sec 3 8/4 csWI, With the fervor of squirrels hunting acorns, they gather goldenrod galls, and lay up the winter’s stock of handy bait—goldenrod worms. 1968–69 DARE (Qu. P6, . . Kinds of worms . . used for bait) Inf WI17, Goldenrod bug—for ice fishing; IL32, Goldenrod worm—a light-colored worm [that] gets in goldenrod in the fall of the year. 1973 WI State Jrl. (Madison) 28 Jan sec 3 8/3, Hidden in the cornmeal were pale little critters called goldenrod worms. “You try those goldies, and I’ll use these susies,” he encouraged. 1977 Star–Gaz. (Elmira NY) 5 Feb mag sec 8/3, “Good bait to use is goldenrod grubs,” Swarthout said. “You know those bulges on goldenrod stems? Break those open and get the grubs.” 1982 Sternberg Fishing 88, Goldenrod grubs are the larvae of goldenrod gall flies. The gallworm is whitish and about the size of a popcorn kernel. 1986 Field & Stream May 63/1, Undoubtedly, the six most popular grubs for panfishing are waxworms, mousies, goldenrods, black-eyed Susans, spikes, and mealworms. 1998 La Crosse Tribune (WI) 5 Feb sec D 1/5, I like to use a couple wax worms and tip the jig with a goldenrod gall grub, too,” he said. “I pick a bucket of galls after deer season and open up what I need before I go out.” 2012 in 2020 DARE File—Internet nwIN, Another bait we used were goldenrod grubs. . . Goldenrod is a common weed and any patch of goldenrod will have numerous stems sticking up through the snow with a golf ball sized bulb on the stem. . . It’s labor intensive to gather and extract goldy-grubs, but inside is a pea-sized larva that makes an excellent panfish bait.