Solenopsis scelesta 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, but Forel’s description of S. scelesta 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 to eliminate the trinomen.