A new species – Ischyomius escalonai – is described from Venezuela (type locality: Lara, Yacumbú National Park, El Blanquito). Males of I. escalonai have distinctive genitalia with very short accessory lobes, and both sexes have simple elytral apices, without the spine that is present in almost all other species of the genus. The type specimens of I. escalonai were collected in association with dry leaves of Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia sp.) plants. A revised key to species of Ischyomius is provided.