Editing Ghost moth (section)

==Mating==
===Male/male interactions===

====Lekking====
The ghost swift aggregates in leks in order to attract female mates. Lekking occurs at dusk and typically lasts for 20–30 minutes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Andersson|first1=S.|last2=Rydell|first2=J.|last3=Svensson|first3=M. G. E.|date=1998-07-22 |title=Light, predation and the lekking behaviour of the ghost swift ''Hepialus humuli'' (L.) (Lepidoptera, Hepialidae)|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|volume=265|issue=1403|pages=1345–1351|doi=10.1098/rspb.1998.0440|issn=0962-8452|pmc=1689211}}</ref> During the lekking period, incident light intensities between 10.0 and 2.0 lux have been found to increase the brightness contrast between the background (grass/plants) and male moths' silver/white wings. It is thus believed that the male wing color may have evolved as a secondary adaptation to aid in the moth's visibility.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Rydell|first=Jens|date=1998-08-07 |title=Bat defence in lekking ghost swifts (''Hepialus humuli''), a moth without ultrasonic hearing|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences|language=en|volume=265|issue=1404|pages=1373–1376|doi=10.1098/rspb.1998.0444|issn=0962-8452|pmid=9721686|pmc=1689220}}</ref>

====Displaying====
The male ghost swifts display by hovering directly above vegetation, while occasionally shifting slowly horizontally. The displaying male only occasionally made vertical movements to shift display positions.<ref name="Mallet1984">{{cite journal|last1=Mallet|first1=James |title=Sex roles in the ghost moth Hepialus humuli (L.) and a review of mating in the Hepialidae (Lepidoptera)|journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society|volume=80|issue=1|year=1984|pages=67–82|issn=0024-4082|doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.1984.tb02320.x}}</ref> Females are attracted to the displaying males in leks, and once a female chooses a male she will pass within a few centimeters of him.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Turner|first=John R. G.|date=1976-02-01 |title=Sexual behaviour: female swift moth is not the aggressive partner|journal=Animal Behaviour|volume=24|issue=1|pages=188–190|doi=10.1016/S0003-3472(76)80113-3|s2cid=53167316}}</ref> The male will follow the female, who will land and beat her wings, signaling that the male may approach her. The two moths will then [[copulation (zoology)|copulate]].<ref name=":3" />

===Female/male interactions===

====Pheromones====
Males perform a flight display and use both chemical and visual signals to attract females to their mating sites.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|last=Mallet|first=James|date=1984-01-01 |title=Sex roles in the ghost moth Hepialus humuli (L.) and a review of mating in the Hepialidae (Lepidoptera)|journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society|language=en|volume=80|issue=1|pages=67–82|doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.1984.tb02320.x|issn=1096-3642}}</ref> While aggregating in leks, male ghost swifts use [[pheromones]].. These are emitted in order to attract a female, but they are not known to be used as an [[aphrodisiac]]. The main component of the male pheromone (in the distantly related species ''[[Phymatopus hecta]]'') is [[Farnesene|(''E'',''E'')-α-Farnesene]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Schulz|first1=S.|last2=Francke|first2=W.|last3=König|first3=W. A.|last4=Schurig|first4=V.|last5=Mori|first5=K.|last6=Kittmann|first6=R.|last7=Schneider|first7=D.|date=December 1990 |title=Male pheromone of swift moth, Hepialus hecta L. (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae)|journal=Journal of Chemical Ecology|volume=16|issue=12|pages=3511–3521|doi=10.1007/BF00982114|issn=0098-0331|pmid=24263445|bibcode=1990JCEco..16.3511S |s2cid=26903035}}</ref>

The olfactory substances used to attract females are produced on the male's hind tibial brushes, and were said to be "goat-like", meaning the smell of the [[Goat Moth]] caterpillar.<ref name=":7" /><ref>R South 1909. ''The moths of the British Isles'', volume 2. London, Frederick Warne.</ref> Males may also be attracted to stationary females by olfactory stimuli.