aggregation pheromone
Quick Summary
An aggregation pheromone is a type of pheromone, which is a chemical secreted by an organism that triggers a specific response in another organism of the same species. Aggregation pheromones are used to promote the gathering of individuals. For example, some ants use scent pheromones to create trails leading to food sources, guiding other colony members to the location. Pheromones can also signal danger, like a chemical released by a wounded minnow that causes a school of fish to disperse. They play a role in sexual attraction and behavior, and can influence sexual development in mammals and insects. Entomologists utilize aggregation and sex-attractant pheromones to trap harmful insects.1
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