biostudies-literatureHuang Xthe Major Science and Technology Projects of the Hunan Provincial Department of Science and Technologythe Postgraduate Joint Training Base project in Hunan Provincethe Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province45https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12842401biostudies-literatureUnknown17(1)The courtship behavior of moths is closely related to the biosynthesis and release of sex pheromones. To understand the mechanisms of the reproductive behavior of the ghost moth <i>Endoclita davidi</i>, a host insect of <i>Cordyceps xuefeng</i> (<i>Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis</i>), this study examined the courtship behavior and the ultrastructure of the sex pheromone gland of <i>E. davidi</i>. Infrared photography was used to analyze the courtship behavior, while SEM, paraffin tissue sectioning, and TEM were employed to examine the sex pheromone glands on the hind tibia. The courtship behavior of <i>E. davidi</i> occurs during the scotophase, during which males vibrate their wings and unfold the hairpencils located on the hind tibiae to lure the female moths. The hairpencil's surface featuInsectsThe Courtship Behavior and the Ultrastructure of Sex Pheromone Glands in the Hind Tibiae of Male Ghost Moth <i>Endoclita davidi</i> (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae).PMC12842401xjt [2021] No. 34614JJ50292014FJ1007Li XZhou QHuang XChen SZhou ZfalseThe Courtship Behavior and the Ultrastructure of Sex Pheromone Glands in the Hind Tibiae of Male Ghost Moth <i>Endoclita davidi</i> (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae).The courtship behavior of moths is closely related to the biosynthesis and release of sex pheromones. To understand the mechanisms of the reproductive behavior of the ghost moth <i>Endoclita davidi</i>, a host insect of <i>Cordyceps xuefeng</i> (<i>Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis</i>), this study examined the courtship behavior and the ultrastructure of the sex pheromone gland of <i>E. davidi</i>. Infrared photography was used to analyze the courtship behavior, while SEM, paraffin tissue sectioning, and TEM were employed to examine the sex pheromone glands on the hind tibia. The courtship behavior of <i>E. davidi</i> occurs during the scotophase, during which males vibrate their wings and unfold the hairpencils located on the hind tibiae to lure the female moths. The hairpencil's surface featu2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-13T03:22:24.837Z2026-06-13T03:12:15.578ZS-EPMC128424014159889910.3390/insects17010045