Pheromones
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Author: Marcus Grant What are pheromones? You've no doubt heard the word tossed around on TV, in movies and maybe even occasionally in real life. Usually, the word is accompanied by images of sexually attractive people eyeing each other inside bars or crowded nightclubs. The idea is that people release scents that attract prospective mates. But when it comes right down to it, what are pheromones?
Basically, pheromones are simply chemicals. These chemicals are released by living creatures to send a message to another creature of the same species. A common misconception is that pheromones are only used in the mating ritual; that the only use for pheromones is to attract a mate. In fact, some pheromones are used to raise an alarm, such as that released by ants to warn other members of the colony of potential danger. Ants also use pheromones to send a message that a food trail has been established and other ants use it as a map to guide them to the food.
Pheromones have even been used by humans against insects. Many insecticides work by releasing sex pheromones to attract the pests and trapping them. Although your first thought upon hearing this is that it merely confirms your opinion of how inferior insects are to humans, remember that predators use perfume or cologne to attract unsuspecting victims in the human world. How many men have left a nightclub with a woman who smelled fabulous only to go home without their wallets? How many women have been turned on by a man's cologne only to wind up with a sexual predator?
While insects are the primary beneficiaries of pheromones, mammals also send out chemicals messages. Whenever your pet cat or dog "marks" his territory, that is an example of using pheromones. In addition, it has been well established that rodents such as mice and rates use pheromones as part of their mating behavior.
Because of the existence of pheromones in insects and certain mammals, it wasn't long before scientists turned their attention to whether humans have pheromones. Love potions have long been a staple of fairy tales and folk tales. After all, wouldn't it be great if you could just douse someone with a spray and make them attracted to you. And everyone who has walked into a house permeated with the scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies understands the power of aroma.
There's no question that humans respond to smell, but evolutionary theory flies in the face of human pheromones having any real power. There is a reason that lower species must rely upon pheromones to communicate with each other. Insects cannot use facial expressions, gestures or inflections to make clear what they are trying to say. While a human female can flip her hair or lick or her lips to indicate sexual interest, insects are at a distinct advantage. Evolutionary theory indicates that scent as a communication device is not a necessity for propagation of the species. Obviously, this is not the case with insects or even rodents.
Pheromones, therefore, should not be considered the cologne of the insect world, but rather the very lifeblood.
About the Author:
Marcus Grant Pheromone Colognes www.pheremone.net
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