Sex pheromone
- Pronunciation
- /seks fe-roh-mohn/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Sex pheromone
- Plural
- Sex pheromones
Definition
Chemicals emitted by an individual of one sex to attract members of the opposite sex for mating.
Etymology
From Latin 'sex' (gender) and Greek 'pherein' (to carry) and '-mone' (a suffix used in biochemistry).
Example
Female moths often release sex pheromones to attract males for mating.
Synonyms
- Mate attractant
Related Terms
- Pheromone
- Mating
- Attraction
Usage Notes
Sex pheromones are often species-specific and can be complex mixtures of chemicals.