Dichtha

The white-legged toktokkies 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:

Dichtha cubica Félix [Édouard Guérin-Méneville|Guérin-Méneville], 1845 — White-legged toktokkie
Dichtha inflata Carl [Eduard Adolph Gerstaecker|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.