The white-legged toktokkies (genus Dichtha) are ground-dwelling, Afrotropical beetles in the family Tenebrionidae. They are stout, black beetles of about 2 – 2.5 cm in length. The antennae and legs are covered in pale to brownish down. Like the related genus Psammodes, the adults tap out a rhythm on the ground to attract and locate mates. They feed on both plant and animal material. Some species, like D. inflata, may feign death.
Species The species include:Kamiński, M. J., Kanda, K., Lumen, R., Ulmer, J. M., Wirth, C. C., Bouchard, P., Aalbu, R., Mal, N., & Smith, A. D. (2019). World catalogue of the tribe Sepidiini (Tenebrionidae, Coleoptera). In O. Bánki, Y. Roskov, M. Döring, G. Ower, L. Vandepitte, D. Hobern, D. Remsen, P. Schalk, R. E. DeWalt, M. Keping, J. Miller, T. Orrell, R. Aalbu, R. Adlard, E. M. Adriaenssens, C. Aedo, E. Aescht, N. Akkari, S. Alexander, et al., Catalogue of Life Checklist (Version 22, 2019-04). https://doi.org/10.48580/dfq8-3gm Dichtha cubica Guérin-Méneville, 1845 — White-legged toktokkie Dichtha inflata Gerstaecker, 1854 — Red-backed toktokkie, Kafadala Dichtha modesta Robiche, 2013 Dichtha transvalica Brancsik, 1914 Dichtha quedenfeldti Kolbe, 1886
A catalogue of the Sepidiini tribe from 2019 considers Dichtha incantatoris Koch, 1952 a nomen nudum and therefore invalid. A likely source of this erroneous name is the popular Field Guide to Insects of South Africa by M Picker, C Griffiths & A Weaving. Specimens identified under this name are likely Dichtha cubica (see this explanation by iNaturalist curator Riaan Stals).
References
External links Dichtha, Global names index Dichtha, "Coleopterorum catalogus", W. Junk, Internet archive Dichtha cubica Guérin-Méneville, 1845 Dichtha inflata Gerstaecker, 1854 Dichtha quedenfeldti Kolbe, 1886