The charismatic pulchripennis-group of Scelio Latreille is revised and 18 species are treated. The species group is described and diagnosed. Eight new species are described: S. clarkei Yoder, sp. n. (India, Sri Lanka); S. ememeye Yoder, sp. n. (Sri Lanka, Nepal); S. leipo Yoder, sp. n. (Madagascar); S. parapulchripennis Yoder, sp. n. (Madagascar); S. masneri Yoder, sp. n. (Botswana, South Africa); S. paranitens Yoder, sp. n. (Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe); S. tria, Yoder & Masner, sp. n. (India); and S. turbidus Yoder, sp. n. (Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania). Scelio princeps Nixon is treated as a junior synonym of S. poecilopterus Priesner (syn. n.). Scelio variegatus Kozlov & Kononova is removed from synonymy with S. poecilopterus Priesner and treated as a valid species (stat. n.). Lectotypes are designated for Scelio baoli Risbec, S. corion Nixon, and S. pulchripennis Brues. Known hosts are eggs of grasshoppers in the family Acrididae (Orthoptera). The electronic version of this paper contains numerous hyperlinks that make use of biodiversity informatics standards to reference supporting data.