Johnston's organ

The Johnstonsche organ is a sensory organ in insects occurring in the second antenna element ( pedicel ). It is equipped with pin- leading sensilla ( Scolopidien ) and is excited by vibration of the antenna whip, ie it serves as a vibration sensor. In the tobacco hornworm its function for position control in flight has been proven: The influenced by body movements and vibrations of air vibrating the antenna is perceived with the institution. It allows a fine control of the flight position in order to facilitate curves and other changes of direction. A similar function is assumed for all flying insects.

Besides the location control in flight Johnstonsche the organ at various insect orders has a range of other features, all of which build on the perception of vibrations. It serves as the swash beetles ( Gyrinidae ) and back floats ( Notonectidae ) for detecting prey on the water surface, the device by which the motions in vibration. In Drosophila, the males of mosquitoes ( Culicidae ), biting midges ( Chironomidae ) and other Diptera it is used for sound perception, as hearing organ.

The Johnstonsche organ is named after Christopher Johnston, who described it in 1855.

Swell

• Anatomy (eddy lots)