Tarsal formula

The tarsal formula is the number of segments on the tarsi of arthropods. The tarsus is the bottom part of an arthropod's legs, see diagram.

Diagram of a typical insect leg

The formula has 3 numbers a-b-c, starting with the front leg (a), then the middle leg (b), then the hind leg (c). For example, a tarsal formula of "5-5-4" means there are 5 segments in the fore leg's tarsi, 5 segments in the middle leg's tarsi, and 4 segments in the hind leg's tarsi.[1] This character is especially useful at family rank and higher.[2]

The characteristic is useful when identifying insects.

References
  1. Waterbug key. Archived 2014-03-10 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "tarsus, tarsi, tarsomere, tarsal formula - BugGuide.Net". bugguide.net.


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