Some genera, such as Psammodes, raise their

abdomen and then rhythmically tap it on the

ground as a means of communication, making a

loud ticking noise. This has earned them the local

name in southern Africa of “toktokkies,” and

a new genus was even named Toktokkus in

recognition of this behavior. Toktokkies,

being flightless, can be very big: the

southern African Stridulomus sulcicollis

can be 3 in (8 cm) long.

with their abdomen raised and their

head down, they allow tiny droplets of

atmospheric water vapor from the morning

mist, which even occurs in deserts, to

condense on their elytra and flow down

special grooves toward their mouth. This

behavior, regularly repeated, allows them

to collect enough moisture to survive in the

driest deserts, where few insects can live

left | Dichtha cubica

The White-Legged

Toktokkie from southern

African deserts earns its

name from the rhythmic

tapping sound it makes

with its abdomen.

below | Lepidochora

eberlanzi An African

species strongly adapted

for “swimming” through

wind-blown sand in the

Namib desert.