Pheromone (C/N)

Pheromones (from the Greek phero, “to bear,” and hormone) is a chemical factor which is secreted or excreted by certain types of animals which trigger a social response in members of the same species, usually in insects, though some vertebrates and plants also communicate via pheromones. There are many different types of pheromones which may be used by a given species, but some of the most common are alarm pheromones, which notify others of the species of danger; food trail pheromones, which allow members of the same species (notably bees) to find a new source of food; and sex pheromones, which–obviously–attract members of the species of the opposite sex.