[Aim]  Utilizing plant secondary metabolites to regulate insect behavior is a crucial pest control strategy. Investigating the effects of ethanol extracts from Periplocae cortex on the reproductive behavior of Spodoptera frugiperda can offer a foundation for subsequent screening of active ingredients that interfere with mating and the development of innovative pest management based on olfactory behavior regulators. [Methods]  Indoor fumigation was used to determine the effects of different concentrations (0.09-14.40 mg/mL) of P. cortex ethanol extract on the timing, frequency, duration of S. frugiperda courtship, as well as the number of spermatophores in copulatory pouch and eggs laid. Additionally, we investigated the effect of spraying P. cortex ethanol extract on the oviposition selectivity of S. frugiperda in an indoor cage. [Results]  There was no significant effect of the different concentrations of P. cortex ethanol extracts exposured on S. frugiperda courtship behavior (P>0.05), while their mating behavior could be inhibited. Among them, the mating frequency, duration, and number of sperm packets treated with a concentration of 7.2 mg/mL were (1.92±0.35) times, (152.50±23.42) minutes, and (1.44±0.13), respectively, which were significantly lower than those of female adults in the control group (3.67±0.45) times, (315.00±70.60) min, and (2.27±0.11) times (P<0.05) The ethanol extracts of P. cortex significantly reduced the number of eggs laid of S. frugiperda (P<0.05). The average single female egg production of the 7.2 and 14.4 mg/mL concentration treatments were (586.66±50.32) and (503.63±66.83) eggs, respectively, which were 58.19% and 49.95% of the control group. The results of the cage test showed that spray application of the P. cortex ethanol extracts significantly influenced S. frugiperda oviposition selection behavior, with an attracting effect at low concentrations, but a repelling effect at high concentrations. The number of eggs laid on maize plants treated with 14.4 mg/mL accounted for 31.92%±9.09% of the total number of eggs counted in the treatment cage. while the egg laying amount of maize plants treated with 0.09 mg/mL concentration accounted for 64.95%±4.47% of the corresponding cage egg laying amount. [Conclusion]  Ethanol extracts from P. cortex can significantly inhibit the mating behavior of S. frugiperda, reducing both the frequency of effective mating and the oviposition ability of female S. frugiperda. Simultaneously, these extracts have a significant repellent effect, interfering with the oviposition selection of female S. frugiperda.