The distribution of Placobdella ornata (Verrill, 1872) is unclear as there has been much taxonomic confusion regarding this species. New collections and redetermination of museum specimens revealed 24 new locality records for Placobdella ornata, including the first reports of the species in New York and Rhode Island. Placobdella ornata is now known to occur in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and eastern New York, USA, as well as Belgium (presumably introduced). A specimen from the syntype series of Placobdella ornata (Verrill, 1872) is designated as the lectotype of the species.