Antenning

Antenning is a term used in ethology and sensory biology to describe the act of using an animal's antennae to explore the environment. The word is a gerund derived from antenna and is used to refer to active, purposeful sweeping or probing movements of the antennae to detect tactile, chemical, and environmental cues. In some literature it is discussed alongside antennation or antennating, with slight variation in emphasis depending on the author.

The behavior involves multiple sensory modalities. Antennae can detect textures and orientation through mechanosensory receptors, and they sense chemical cues via chemoreceptors embedded in sensilla. These inputs are integrated by the nervous system to guide actions such as foraging, object discrimination, social recognition, and predator avoidance. Antennal movements may be rhythmic or exploratory, and can be coordinated with other sensory organs to form a composite perception of the surroundings.

A broad range of animals use antennal sensing, most notably insects and crustaceans, including ants, beetles, shrimp, and crayfish. Some myriapods also rely on paired antennae for environmental sampling. In social insects, antenning often accompanies contact-based communication and nestmate recognition, while in crustaceans it can signal the presence of food, mates, or pheromonal cues. The behavior is frequently studied in laboratory settings through observations of sweep duration and frequency, and through physiological measures such as electroantennography, which records sensory neuron responses to odorants.

Etymology and usage vary; antenning is sometimes used interchangeably with antennation, though some authors reserve antennation for the broader set of antennal-contact behaviors. Related terms include antennal sensilla, chemoreception, and mechanoreception.