Pheromone

Pheromones are chemicals that are released by an organism. On detecting these pheromones the biology and behaviour of another organism, usually a member of the same species, is affected.

For example, the female Vapourer Moth (Orgyia antiqua) is flightless and cannot search for a mate. This means that males must search for the females. In order to make themselves easier to find the female moths produce a pheromone. The males detect this pheromone using long feathery antennae and follow the pheromone trail to the female moth.

A photograph of a female Vapourer Moth.
Photograph by Grmanners licensed under Creative Commons.

Related terms

• Androconia
• Antenna
• Formicidae
• Hormone
• Nocturnal
• Queen substance

See other words beginning with P