The type species of Baryphas Simon, 1902, B. ahenus Simon, 1902, is illustrated and its distribution in South Africa is updated based on the material contained in six collections. A new species, B. parvulus sp. nov., is described from north-eastern South Africa. DNA barcodes (cytochrome oxidase subunit I, COI) are presented for seven Baryphas specimens and several other Plexippini from South Africa, with the results supporting the distinction between the two Baryphas species.