The tenebrionid genus Eleodes Eschscholtz, 1829 was monographed by Blaisdell in 1909. Blaisdell's monograph did not cover most of the continental Mexican species, and most of the Eleodes subgenera have not been revised since the time of that publication. The subgenus Promus LeConte, 1862 is herein reviewed. Eleodes compositus Casey, 1891, revised status, is removed from synonymy with Eleodes hispilabris (Say, 1824) and placed in the subgenus Promus. Moreover, Eleodes hepburni Champion, 1892 is moved from Promus to the subgenus Steneleodes Blaisdell, 1909. Eleodes subnitens sinuata Blaisdell, 1909 is placed as a junior synonym of Eleodes subnitens LeConte, 1851, new synonymy. Eleodes madrensis Johnston, new species, is described from Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. A checklist is given for all species currently assigned to Promus, and a key is presented for the eight species known to occur in the United States.