Described herein is a method for controlling pests of a maize plant, including the step of contacting the maize plant, parts of the maize plant, or its propagation material with components of the ginkgo tree selected from bilobalide, ginkgolide A, ginkgolide B, ginkgolide C, ginkgolide J, ginkgolide M, and mixtures thereof. Further described herein is the use of the components of the ginkgo tree for controlling pests on the maize plant, parts of the maize plant, or its plant propagation material.