What defines a pheromone?

A pheromone is specifically a chemical substance that is secreted by an animal and serves the purpose of influencing the behavior of other individuals of the same species. This definition encompasses how pheromones play a crucial role in various social interactions among animals, such as mating, marking territory, or signaling alarm.

For example, many insects like bees and ants use pheromones to communicate information about food sources, danger, or reproductive status to other members of their colony. This chemical signaling is not only limited to insects but is also observed in mammals, including humans, where pheromones can affect attraction and social bonding. The specificity to the same species is key, as pheromones are intended to elicit a response from others of the same kind, rather than signaling different species or providing visual or auditory information.