Subject: Toktokkie beetle?
Geographic location of the bug: Pretoria, South Africa
Date: 12/13/2017
Time: 08:49 AM EDT
I spotted this beetle in the bush in Pretoria, South Africa, and would like to identify it.
The only similar ones I could compare it to in my insect book are not from this region.
How you want your letter signed: Helene Vermeulen
Dear Helene,
We agree with your identification. This sure looks like a White Legged Tok-Tokkie Beetle, Dichtha incantatoris. According to Beetles in the Bush: ” A number of particularly large species that go by the common name ‘tok-tokkies’ make their homes in the dry Namib desert and surrounding bushveld.” Pretoria is very close to the sighting posted on iNaturalist. CalPhotos has an individual from Botswana pictured. The species is also pictured on iSpot and Encyclopedia of Life. We are uncertain why you believe it is not found in your region.