Trail pheromone
- Pronunciation
- /TRAYL fer-uh-mohn/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Trail pheromone
- Plural
- Trail pheromones
Definition
Chemical signals deposited on surfaces, such as leaves or soil, by ants to mark trails leading to food sources.
Etymology
From 'trail' and 'pheromone'
Example
The trail pheromones of fire ants lead other workers to a newly discovered food source.
Related Terms
- Recruitment pheromone
- Ants
- Communication
Usage Notes
Trail pheromones are often volatile and can evaporate quickly, making them useful for marking temporary trails.