Tampon with wicking member adapted for improved manufacturability and wicking performance

A tampon having a longitudinal axis along a use insertion direction, the tampon comprising a pledget having a forward end and a rearward end;

• a wicking member having a trailing portion trailing the rearward end and having a rearward edge;
• and a withdrawal cord with an attached portion attached to the pledget, and a free portion trailing the rearward end and the rearward edge;
• wherein:
• when in an opened condition the pledget has a pair of side edges, a first broad surface and a second broad surface opposite the first broad surface, the first and second broad surfaces occupying approximately parallel planes;
• the pledget having a pledget length PL and a pledget width PW;
• the pledget comprises a batt of one or more layers of fibrous absorbent material and an outer cover at least partially covering the absorbent material such that a portion of the outer cover extends over the forward end of the one or more layers of fibrous absorbent material and comprising a first section of nonwoven web material,
• the trailing portion of the wicking member comprises at least four layers of nonwoven web material, at least one of the at least four layers of nonwoven web material being formed of an integral extension of the first section of nonwoven web material;
• the wicking member has a wicking member width WW substantially equal to the pledget width PW;
• and
• the trailing portion of the wicking member has a length WL of at least about 10 mm and no greater than about 60 mm.