Sex pheromone

Definition

A chemical signal released by an organism to attract and elicit mating responses from conspecifics of the opposite sex. In arthropods, these semiochemicals typically convey information about species identity, sex, reproductive status, and sometimes genotype, enabling mate location and recognition across distances or through direct contact. Sex pheromones may be volatile compounds detected via olfaction, or non-volatile cuticular hydrocarbons requiring contact chemoreception.

Etymology

From Greek pherein (to carry) + horman (to excite), with 'sex' specifying reproductive function.

Example

Female saturniid moths (Saturniidae) emit species-specific blends of volatile sex pheromones from abdominal glands; males detect these at nanogram concentrations using their large, feathery antennae and fly upwind to locate females. In contrast, many Drosophila fruit flies rely on non-volatile cuticular hydrocarbons that males taste with foreleg contact to confirm female identity before courtship.

Synonyms

• mating pheromone
• reproductive pheromone

Related Terms

• aggregation pheromone
• alarm pheromone
• trail pheromone
• cuticular hydrocarbon
• Semiochemical
• olfaction
• contact chemoreception
• Sexual selection
• Kairomone

Usage Notes

Distinguished from aggregation pheromones (which bring both sexes together for feeding or oviposition) and from primer pheromones (which alter physiology rather than elicit immediate behavior). Volatile sex pheromones are the basis for monitoring and mating disruption in integrated pest management, particularly for Lepidoptera. The term is sometimes used loosely for any pheromone involved in reproduction, but strictly excludes post-mating signals that inhibit further courtship.