Pheromones

Pheromones: Chemical Messanger

Have you ever wonder how does an insect communicate? Unlike other living organisms, insects don’t have the ability to speak and communicate. Some insects may even look like they have eyes but they cannot see through them. So how does these insects communicate with each other? Simple, they send chemical signals that can easily be detected by other insects of their own kind. These chemicals are called pheromones. These are some examples of insects that contain and release these chemical signals, cockroaches and moths.

To start of, the common question that one will surely ask is, what are pheromones? Pheromones are described to be like signals that are secreted by an insect. To be able to receive this chemical signal, one must consist a receptor that is familiar with pheromones. After it binds to a receptor of another insect, translation begins. According to Klein(2012), some insects use compounds that warn of danger(alarm pheromones), while other insects use compounds that promote aggregation among members of the same species(aggregation pheromones)., pheromones are also used by many insects to attract members of the opposite sex for mating purposes(sex pheromones). Others also conclude that pheromones exist in humans and can act as hormones that arouse one’s self. But in insects, pheromones are chemicals produced as messangers that affect the behavior of other individuals of insects or other animals. They are usually wind borne but sometimes are sent in the soil or various items. When pheromones are presented in combinations or concentrations, the message that is being conveyed differs. They travel slowly, do not fade quickly and is very effective even in long ranges and pheromone detection is not limited to straight lines.

An example of a pheromone is the sex pheromone that is used by moths in mating, it is called 2-methylheptadecane. Another pheromone is called undecane, this kind of pheromone is used by cockroaches in aggregation. Both of these pheromones are alkanes, but many pheromones exhibit more functional groups. One of the pheromones called androstenone have a molecular formula or C19H28O.

To sum it all up, chemicals are big components of life. Whether it is secreted or can be found inside the organisms body, it helps one discover intricating events of life. In order for scientists to determine and reveal life and how it began, Chemistry contributes a big chunk of information in discovering life forms and other mysteries of biology.

Sources:

Klein, D. (2012). Organic Chemistry. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons,
Inc.

http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/pheromones.htm