Sphaerophthalma Blake, 1886 . Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 13: 179.

Type species. Mutilla (Sphaeropthalma) scaeva Blake, 1871 (male), by subsequent designation of Ashmead, 1899: 60.

Taxonomic history. Objectively invalid name: junior objective synonym of Sphaeropthalma Blake, 1871 according to Krombein, 1951a: 752. (Categorized as an unjustified emendation of Sphaeropthalma Blake, 1871 by Brothers, 1975: 623 following Article 33(a) of the Second Edition of the Code (ICZN, 1964). This interpretation probably remains valid, although Article 33.2.3 of the current Code is more explicit in its requirements, since Blake, 1886: 179 stated that “ Sphaerophthalma ” had been “treated as a subgenus in the “Synopsis” [1871]”, thereby effectively referring to both spellings, and demonstrating that the change was intentional.)