Pheromone

Definition

A chemical substance secreted or excreted by an organism that elicits a specific behavioral or physiological response in conspecifics, typically detected via olfactory or gustatory sensilla. In arthropods, pheromones mediate intraspecific communication for mate location, aggregation, alarm, trail marking, territorial defense, and caste regulation. Unlike hormones, which act internally, pheromones function externally as semiochemicals between individuals.

Etymology

From Greek pherein ('to carry') + hormon ('stimulating'), coined by Peter Karlson and Martin Lüscher in 1959.

Example

Female Vapourer Moths (Orgyia antiqua) are flightless and emit a sex pheromone that males detect with their plumose antennae, enabling location over considerable distances.

Synonyms

• ectohormone (dated)

Related Terms

• Semiochemical
• Kairomone
• allomone
• synomone
• antenna
• Sensillum
• chemoreception
• trail pheromone
• alarm pheromone
• Queen substance

Usage Notes

Pheromones are strictly intraspecific; similar interspecific chemicals are classified as kairomones (benefit receiver), allomones (benefit emitter), or synomones (mutual benefit). The term is sometimes misapplied to any attractive odor. In social insects, pheromone blends often convey complex information (e.g., honey bee queen mandibular pheromone regulates worker reproduction and swarming). Synthetic pheromones are widely used in integrated pest management for monitoring and mating disruption.