What is a chemical that insects use to communicate called?

Insects utilize a variety of chemicals for communication, with pheromones being a key example. Pheromones are specific chemical substances that are secreted by an individual and can influence the behavior or physiology of other members of the same species. They play critical roles in various behaviors such as mating, marking territory, signaling danger, and facilitating social interactions within colonies, particularly in social insects like ants, bees, and termites.

Unlike neurotransmitters, which are involved in signaling between neurons within the nervous system, or hormones, which regulate bodily functions and processes within an organism, pheromones are primarily about intraspecies communication. Enzymes, on the other hand, are biological catalysts that facilitate biochemical reactions but do not serve an explicit role in communication between organisms. Understanding the distinct roles of these substances helps clarify why pheromones are specifically associated with insect communication.