Psammodes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tok-tok beetles
Psammodes cf batesi, a, Skeerpoort.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Tenebrionidae
Tribe:
Sepidiini
Genus:
Psammodes

Kirby, 1819

The tok-tok beetles (genus Psammodes) are ground-dwelling, Afrotropical beetles in the family Tenebrionidae.[1] They are stout in shape and typically black or dark rufous in colour. They average about 2.6 cm in body length, but the Spindle toktokkie (P. bertolonii) has an elongate body shape and measures 5.3 cm,[2] while P. sulcicollis reaches 6 to 8 cm, and is the largest Tenebrionid in the world.[3] Like the related genus Dichtha, the adults tap out a rhythm on the ground to attract and locate mates. Habitats are varied, from coastal forest to ridges, koppies, woodland and desert sand.[2]

Species[]

The genus contains about 270 species,[4] including:

  • Haag-Rutenberg JG 1871 (southern Africa)
  • Guérin-Méneville, 1844 – Spindle toktokkie (South Africa)
  • Haag-Rutenberg JG 1871 (Namibia)
  • Olivier AG 1795
  • Koch C2 (Namibia)
  • Péringuey LA 1904 (South Africa)
  • Solier AJJ 1843
  • Lesne P 1922 (Kenya)
  • Laporte de Castelnau FLN 1840
  • Péringuey LA 1908 (Namibia)
  • Thunberg CP 1787 (Namibia)
  • Fåhreus OI 1870 (South Africa)
  • Solier AJJ 1843 (South Africa)
  • Haag-Rutenberg JG 1875
  • Gebien, 1910 (South Africa)
  • Fabricius JC 1775 – Striped toktokkie (South Africa)
  • Péringuey, 1885
  • Lesne P 1922
  • Fåhreus OI 1870
  • Burchell, 1822 (southern Africa)
  • Koch, 1953
  • Psammodes karrooensis
  • Psammodes hottentotus
  • Psammodes mülleri
  • Psammodes mashunus
  • Psammodes procursus
  • Psammodes junodi
  • Psammodes caelatus
  • Psammodes incongruens

References[]

  1. ^ "Psammodes". MBLWHOI Library. uBio. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b Picker, Mike; et al. (2004). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.
  3. ^ Owen, Colin R. "Psammodes sulcicollis Péringuey". Beetles of Africa. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Psammodes". MBLWHOI Library. uBio. Retrieved 22 January 2015.

External links[]

Media related to Psammodes at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from ""