Insect and mammalian pheromones

Novel organic chemicals, as well as many simple molecules, are used by insects as defensive materials. Social insects (e.g., ants and bees) utilize alarm pheromones consisting of terpenes and other smaller organic compounds. Moths and butterflies, as well as a few beetles, have been studied extensively for their sex attractants. Since the initial structure proofs of civetone and muscone by Ruzicka in 1926, little mammalian pheromone research has been published. Recently, deer, antelope, hyena, skunk, gerbil, monkey, and human scents have been investigated.