Solenopsis scelesta Forel ^HNS 1908b. NEW STATUS .

Solenopsis decipiens var. scelesta Forel ^HNS 1908b: 364. [w syntypes examined, MHNG, NHMB; São Paulo, Brasil (Ihering)] .

Solenopsis scelesta ^HNS is a relatively gracile species that can be recognized by the following combination of character states: head width> 0.4 mm; compound eyes comprised of about 8-10 ommatidia; dorsal propodeal face about twice as long as declivitous face; dorsal face of propodeum smooth and without sculpture. Material from Paraguay is a close match to Forel’s types from São Paulo. I have not examined Emery’s type of S. decipiens ^HNS, but Forel’s description of S. scelesta ^HNS based on differences in thoracic structure, antennal scape length, and eye size suggests that it is unlikely that both forms are conspecific. I change the status of Solenopsis scelesta ^HNS to eliminate the trinomen.