Dineutus serrulatus Le Conte 1868

This species is wide-ranging, highly variable among populations (Fig. 39), and has been divided into two subspecies: Dineutus serrulatus serrulatus and Dineutus serrulatus analis (Wood 1968). Of these subspecies Dineutus serrulatus serrulatus is more consistent in its characters, while those of Dineutus serrulatus analis are much more variable causing difficulties in separating the two. Dineutus serrulatus analis was originally described as a separate species by Régimbart in 1882, but was relegated to a subspecies of Dineutus serrulatus LeConte by Wood (1968). Recent papers have again treated Dineutes analis as a separate valid species (e.g. Ciegler et al 2003; Realzola et al. 2007). For this study the authors found no single discrete character that could reliably separate the taxa. Although dorsal coloration can usually be used to separate the two subspecies, populations from northern Florida where the two subspecies meet, show intermediate dorsal coloration, being medially polished black, but laterally bronzy green. Furthermore the aedeagi, of the two subspecies are very similar, with only minor differences that appear variable across the entire range of this species. Another useful character for delimiting similar species, the mesotarsal claws, are also similar showing only minor variation. For these reasons we continue to follow Wood (1968) in treating these two taxa as subspecies.