Dichtha

The white-legged toktokkies (genus Dichtha) are ground-dwelling, Afrotropical beetles in the family Tenebrionidae.^[2] They are stout, black beetles of about 2 – 2.5 cm in length. The antennae and legs are covered in pale^[3] to brownish^[4] 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.^[3] Some species, like D. inflata, may feign death.^[4]

White-legged toktokkies
D. cubica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Tenebrionidae
Tribe:	Sepidiini
Genus:	Dichtha Haag-Rutenberg JG, 1871[1]

Species

The species include:^[5]

• 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^[5] 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).