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9 January 2024 Courtship and mating behavior of Endoclita signifer (Hepialidae: Lepidoptera) and the male sex pheromones in hairbrushes
Xiao Chen, Xiaoyan Su, Zhisong Qiu, Yuan Xu, Zhende Yang, Ping Hu
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Abstract

Endoclita signifer Walker is the most destructive wood-boring pest of Eucalyptus in China, causing significant economic and ecological damage. As an insect of the primitive Lepidoptera family Hepialidae, E. signifer fly and mat for only 10–20 min at dusk. The courtship and mating behavior of E. signifer adults and whether male moths release sex pheromones are still unknown, especially since transitory flight survival strategies in primitive moths differ from advanced moths like noctuids. In this study, we first observed the courtship and mating behavior of E. signifer by considering the effects of space and then analyzed extracts of male hairbrushes using gas chromatography–electroantennogram detection. Our results indicated that during the courtship period, flying males form courtship fields, lekking, and chase flying females before mating with them; E. signifer were more successful in mating in larger spaces (Length × Width × Height = 9.6 × 7 × 4 m); 5 compounds in the hairbrushes of the male moths which elicited antennal responses of 2 sexes, despite at high concentrations. Combined with it, indicating that communication between male and female may rely on male sex pheromones. These findings can serve as a basis for studying the mechanisms of sex communication in E. signifer and developing sex pheromone-based trapping techniques.

Xiao Chen, Xiaoyan Su, Zhisong Qiu, Yuan Xu, Zhende Yang, and Ping Hu "Courtship and mating behavior of Endoclita signifer (Hepialidae: Lepidoptera) and the male sex pheromones in hairbrushes," Journal of Economic Entomology 117(1), 218-229, (9 January 2024). https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad243
Received: 15 October 2023; Accepted: 20 December 2023; Published: 9 January 2024
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KEYWORDS
courtship
GC-EAD
hairbrush
male sex pheromone
mate
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