scolophore organ

A scolopophore is an integumentary sense organ found in insects that is believed to be auditory in function. These organs are typically composed of a group of scolophores associated with a thin, chitinous membrane on the body's surface. When sound waves cause this membrane to vibrate, the nerve fibers transmit impulses to the insect's central nervous system, allowing it to perceive sound.12

In insects like moths, simple tympanal organs may have only two to four scolophores. However, in more complex organs, such as those found in cicadas, a sensory body within a capsule can contain as many as 1,500 scolophores. These structures are crucial for various sensory inputs in arthropods, including detecting vibrations and potentially sound.23