The insect tibia is the fourth segment of the insect leg. The tibia articulates proximally with the femur and it distally articulates with the tarsus. The tibia may be quite long in some groups, for example grasshoppers and katydids. Among insects, because the insect thorax is divided into a pro-, meso-, and metathorax, there exists a protibia or foretibia, a mesotibia or midtibia, and a metatibia or hindtibia.

The insect tibia should be distinguished from the tibia of vertebrate species; insects have no bones. The insect tibia is part of the exoskeleton, and the vertebrate tibia is a bone in the lower leg.

References

• Harbach, R.E. & K.L. Knight. 1980. Taxonomist's Glossary of Mosquito Anatomy. Plexus, Marlton, NJ.
• Richards, O.W. & R.G. Davies. 1977. Imm's General Textbook of Entomology, 10th ed. (2 Volumes). Chapman & Hall, London.

Animal anatomy