Antennal Positioning Behavior in Flying Insects

Abstract

In diverse groups of insects, antennae serve as important mechanosensory organs in addition to being the main olfactory organs. During flight, these insects typically position their antennae in a stereotypic manner. Because antennae provide critical information about flight stability to insects, it is important to understand how insect are able to keep their antennae in stereotypic position and why indeed is this antennal positioning response critical for flight. Here, we conduct a series of experiments to understand the neural basis of antennal positioning response. Our study uncovers the sensory apparatus responsible for antennal positioning, and explores how this sensory apparatus communicates with the motor apparatus to generate antennal movements.