Plauditus, n. gen. (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) is established for certain North American Baetis complex species that lack hindwingpads and a developed median caudal filament in the larval stage and that were recently transferred from Pseudocloeon to Baetis or Barbaetis. Thus, P. alachua, n. comb.,P. armillatus, n. comb.,P. bimaculatus, n. comb., P. cestus, n. comb., P. cinctutus, n. comb., P. dubius, n. comb., P, elliotti, n. comb., P. futilis, n. comb., P. punctiventris, n. comb., P. rubrolateralis, n. comb. P. veteris, n. comb., and P. virilis, n. comb, are contained in the new genus. Plauditus cestus is the type species. The larval stage of Plauditus is differentiated from other genera of the Baetis complex by numerous characteristics, and the adult stage is differentiated from other North American baetids also having double marginal intercalaries in the forewings and lacking hindwings (certain Acentrella, Apobaetis, and Paracloeodes). A new, simplified, and illustrated generic key to the North American Baetis complex larvae is provided.