Uman National University | today: 06/27/2025
| Author(s) | Ткаченко Є. В., , , | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | The Agronomy | ||
| year | 2025 | issue | Issue 106 Part 1 |
| pages | 531-537 | index UDK | 632.7:633.15(477.46) | DOI | 10.32782/2415-8240-2025-106-1-531-537 (Link) |
| Abstract | This paper presents the results of a study on the bioecological features and phenology of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) in grain maize agrocenoses in the Uman district of Cherkasy region during 2022–2024. The research aimed to determine the pest’s population dynamics, clarify the phenological stages of its development, and assess the impact of meteorological factors on its biology. Field monitoring involved modified Barber traps to collect ground-dwelling insects, molasses-based bait traps to capture adult moths, and visual inspection methods for egg mass detection and plant damage assessment. The findings revealed that O. nubilalis poses a significant threat to maize crops, particularly in years with moderate temperature increases and sufficient soil and air humidity. The study confirmed that the timing of moth emergence and larval development varies annually and is highly dependent on thermal and moisture conditions. During the study period, the pest population level exceeded the economic threshold of harmfulness (ETH) at least three times, and in certain farms of the district, a consistent trend of increase to the level of or above the ETH was observed. The temperature factor plays a key role in regulating the development of Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. A critical temperature threshold for pupation was identified at 16°C, with egg-laying observed primarily at 18–24°C. In dry years with low hydrothermal coefficients (HTC < 1.0), pest numbers remained below the economic threshold of harmfulness (ETH), whereas more favorable years saw repeated exceedance of ETH levels in certain farms. The activation of natural enemies, including Trichogramma spp. and Braconidae larvae parasitoids, was also observed. The results underscore the importance of regular monitoring and phenological forecasting for integrated pest management in maize production under increasingly arid climatic conditions. | ||
| Key words | European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, population dynamics, phenology, harmfulness, HTC, entomophages, maize, Forest-Steppe | ||