title: Review of the genus Namadytes Hesse, 1969 (Insecta: Diptera: Mydidae: Syllegomydinae).
abstract: The Mydidae genus Namadytes Hesse, 1969 is reviewed. It is known from five species, primarily occurring in Namibia. The study of newly available material from both Namibia and South Africa deposited in several natural history collections results in the recognition of three species and new synonymy of two, i.e., Namadytespallidus Hesse, 1972 is a new junior synonym of Namadytesmaculiventris (Hesse, 1969) and Namadytesprozeskyi Hesse, 1969: 282 is a new junior synonym of Namadytesvansoni Hesse, 1969: 280. All three species are re-described and comments on sexual dimorphism and intraspecific variation are made, a dichotomous key for their identification is presented, and illustrations and photographs are provided to support the descriptions and facilitate future identification. Distribution, occurrence in biodiversity hotspots sensu Conservation International, and seasonal incidence with associated weather and climatic data are discussed for all species. A morphological structure ventral to the halter and posterior to the metathoracic spiracle, the infra-halter sclerite, is here newly termed.
authors.affiliation: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States of America.
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dikow
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, United States of America.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leon
keywords: Afrotropical Region; Diptera; Mydidae; Namadytes; Syllegomydinae; taxonomy