A peered look at Gracilepyris (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae)

[Display omitted] •One new species of Gracilepyris is described; all previously described species are discussed and illustrated.•Designation of the neotype for type species of Gracilepyris.•One species, Mesitius brachypterus, is transferred to Gracilepyris.•Confirmation of previously identified synonyms of Gracilepyris rufipes and revalidations of the status of two Gracilepyris species.•A key to all world Gracilepyris is provided. The epyrine genus Gracilepyris (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) is reviewed. A new species, Gracilepyris malakeae Meidani & Khayrandish sp. nov. from Iran is described and illustrated. In order to clarify the taxonomic status of G. rufipes (Say, 1824), we herein redescribed, illustrated, and a neotype is designated. We also described the male of G. rufipes for the first time. By re-examining the type series, it was revealed that four previously identified synonyms of G. rufipes, Bethylus formicoides Provancher, Epyris montezuma Cameron, Mesitius nevadensis Ashmead, and Mesitius vancouverensis Ashmead is retained in the same taxonomic position. On the other hand, the following taxonomic changes are proposed: G. bifoveolatus (Ashmead), stat. rev.; G. nudicornis (Kieffer), syn. nov. of G. bifoveolatus; G. longicollis (Kieffer), stat. rev., all from G. rufipes. Psilepyris brachypterus (Ashmead) is transferred to Gracilepyris brachypterus (Ashmead) comb. nov. This genus is reported for the first time from Iran. A key to Gracilepyris species and a distribution map are provided. The morphological characters of the new species and its closely related species are discussed.