mones
Mones is a term used in chemical ecology to refer to pheromone-like signaling compounds produced by organisms and detected by others of the same species. The word "mone" is a shorthand for a chemical signal involved in communication, with "mones" as its plural. In practice, the label is applied in some literature to pheromones that influence mating or social behavior, including those that trigger attraction, aggregation, or deterrence. There is no universally standardized definition, and "mone" names are not part of formal IUPAC nomenclature. Researchers describe mones as volatile, semi-volatile, or contact-mediated signals, produced by glands or tissues and released into the environment or exchanged during close contact. They are detected by olfactory or gustatory sensory receptors in conspecifics, leading to behavioral or physiological responses. Identification typically uses chemical analytical methods such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, coupled with behavioral assays to establish biological relevance.
In evolutionary terms, mones function as communicative signals that can influence mating success, social hierarchy, or