feromoner

Feromoner, or pheromones, are chemical signals released by an individual that influence the behavior or physiology of other members of the same species. They are typically detected by specialized sensory systems, mainly the olfactory (smell) system or the vomeronasal organ, and can trigger rapid behavioral responses or longer-term physiological changes. The term pheromone was coined in 1959 by Karlson and Lüscher, from roots meaning to bear and to excite.

Pheromones can be volatile, allowing information to be conveyed over a distance, or non-volatile, requiring close contact. They are often categorized by the immediate type of response they elicit: releaser pheromones provoke rapid actions such as mating, foraging, or alarm, while primer pheromones cause slower, longer-term effects on development or reproduction. Common categories include sex pheromones (attract mates), trail pheromones (pathways to resources), alarm pheromones (signal danger), aggregation pheromones (bring individuals together), and territorial or brood pheromones ( regulate space or colony dynamics).

Examples span a wide range of taxa. Insects frequently use sex pheromones to find mates (e.g., many moth species). Ants use trail pheromones to mark foraging routes, while honeybees rely on queen pheromones to regulate colony reproduction and task division. Pheromones have practical applications in agriculture and pest management, where synthetic pheromones are used in traps or to disrupt mating and reduce population growth.

Humans: the existence and functional role of human pheromones remain debated. Although certain volatile compounds can influence perception or behavior, clear, universally accepted evidence of pheromone-mediated social communication in humans is lacking. The field continues to study chemical communication across species.