How do pheromones help spongy moths attract mates over long distances?

Spongy moths (formerly known as gypsy moths) rely on sex-attractant pheromones to facilitate long-distance mating. When a female is ready to mate, she exposes specialized glands in her abdomen to disperse these chemical signals into the air, a behavior known as calling.1

This process is highly effective because females can attract males from thousands of meters downwind by releasing only minute quantities of the pheromone per second. Males possess specialized scent sensilla on their antennae that allow them to detect these chemical cues over vast distances, enabling them to locate the female even when she is flightless. This reliance on chemical communication is a critical reproductive strategy for the species, ensuring that males can successfully find mates within their environment.213