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A pheromone is any chemical produced by a living organism that transmits a message to other members of the
same species. There are alarm pheromones, food trail pheromones, sex pheromones, and many others. Their use among insects has been particularly well documented, although many vertebrates also communicate using pheromones. Their use by humans is
controversial.
Insect pheromones of pest species, such as the Japanese beetle and the gypsy moth, can be used to
trap them or to create confusion so that the pests do not lay eggs on crops.
In mammals and reptiles, pheromones may
be detected by the vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson's organ, which
lies between the nose and mouth, although some are detected by the nose.
Human pheromones
Pheromones are a popular device in fiction, including the novel Jitterbug Perfume by
Tom Robbins and the film Love Potion Number
Nine.
Some commercially-available substances are advertised using claims that the products contain sex pheromones and can act as an
aphrodisiac. These claims often lack credence due to an excessive marketing
of pheromones by unsolicited e-mail, and their effectiveness has not been
demonstrated scientifically.
Nevertheless, a few well-controlled scientific studies have been published demonstrating that humans may use pheromones in
some circumstances. The best-studied case involves the synchronization of menstrual cycles among women based on odor cues. Other studies have suggested that people can use odor cues
to select mates who are not closely related to themselves.
- See also : Quorum sensing
Bees (Honey Bee Pheromones)
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