Biomechanics of Insect Antenna

Supervisor: Professor Jean-Michel Mongeau

Mechanics of Insect Antenna

During my PhD research, I studied the biomechanics of insect antennae to understand how morphology and material properties shape tactile sensing. This work combines biological experiments, Micro-CT imaging, 3D reconstruction, and finite element modeling to reveal how antenna structure supports sensory function.

🔹 Research Focus

• Investigated mechanical behavior and morphology of antenna annuli using experiments and imaging.
• Built 3D reconstructions from Micro-CT to capture annulus-level structure.
• Developed finite element models to simulate bending mechanics and strain transmission.
• Tested the kinematic chain model hypothesis, showing annuli are linked by softer joints.
• Explored how mechanical specializations (e.g., tip-region folding structures) confer flexibility and prevent buckling.

project overview

🔹 Key Innovations

• Demonstrated that the antenna flagellum behaves as a kinematic chain, supporting distributed flexibility.
• Identified a unique folding structure at the tip annuli, allowing large bending without failure.
• Used FEM to map strain at mechanosensory locations (campaniform sensilla), linking mechanics to sensory encoding.
• Provided a mechanistic framework for how insect antennae convert touch forces into proprioceptive signals.

🔹 Skills & Tools

• Experimental biomechanics: mechanical testing, cyclic bending, fracture analysis.
• Imaging & 3D reconstruction: Micro-CT scanning, segmentation, and morphology reconstruction.
• Computational modeling: finite element analysis (FEA) and kinematic chain modeling.
• Data analysis: signal processing, strain prediction, modeling validation.

Software Used:

• Dragonfly & Avizo – Micro-CT image segmentation & 3D reconstruction
• Abaqus – finite element modeling and simulation
• MATLAB – finite element model development, data analysis, signal processing, and visualization

🔹 Achievements

• Preprint: bioRxiv, 2025
• Journal Submission: Journal of Experimental Biology (in 2nd round of revision)
• Manuscript Title: Mechanical and morphological features of the filiform antenna support a kinematic chain system, confer flexibility and predict strain for proprioception
• Advanced understanding of biomechanical adaptations in insect tactile sensing, bridging biology, mechanics, and modeling.