Directions of Development of Sustainable Maize Protection Under Conditions of Increasing Pressure from the Ostrinia nubilalis Pest—Preliminary Studies

The article presents the results of research conducted at Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology concerning the abundance of a serious maize pest—the European corn borer-Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn (O. nubilalis). The study focused on the actual occurrence of this pest in maize stubble grown after different forecrop and among different maize cultivars. Our research fits perfectly within the framework of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and is important because feeding by the European corn borer increasingly leads to substantial yield losses. From a sustainability perspective, knowledge of larval abundance and vertical distribution may support the development of targeted non-chemical control measures that complement existing Integrated Pest Management strategies. For the purposes of this study, maize was harvested for green fodder in September and for grain in November 2025. It was found that up to three pest larvae were present in some stubbles. On average, for every 25 plants analyzed at stubble grain harvest, over 30 larvae were found inside the stems—some contained as few as three larvae. It was found that the forecrop did not significantly affect larval abundance, whereas cultivar characteristics were the key factor differentiating their occurrence. The results of this study indicate that maize growers should pay increasing attention to this serious pest and strive for its more effective control, particularly through the use of the numerous available non-chemical methods for regulating its population. A patented design solution developed by the authors for the mechanical reduction in O. nubilalis abundance may also be helpful in this regard.