The nomenclatural status of three darkling beetle species previously described under the name Helops gracilis, by Fisher von Waldheim in 1823, Küster in 1850 and Bland in 1864, is clarified. The status of a fourth species, a misidentification of Helops gracilis Küster by Allard (1876, 1877) and Seidlitz (1896), is also discussed. The following new nomenclatural acts are included: Helops gracilis Fisher von Waldheim in 1823 is recognized as Odocnemis (Heloponotus) gracilis (Fisher von Waldheim, 1823) comb. nov. (from Helops); Catomus kuesteri (Weise, 1878) comb. nov. (from Helops) is the valid name for Helops gracilis Küster, 1850; Helops blancli Bousquet and Bouchard, nom. nov. is proposed for Helops gracilis Bland, 1864. Odocnemis perplexus (Ménétriés, 1848) is considered a new synonym of Odocnemis gracilis (Fisher de Waldheim, 1823) and Catomus dichrous Reitter, 1902 as a new synonym of Catomus kuesteri (Weise, 1878). Lectotypes are designated for Helops gracilis Fischer von Waldheim, 1823, H. gracilis Bland, 1864 and H. seidlitzi Gebien, 1911.