What it looks like: The body is black with slight hint of blue or green, and has a small orange frontal spot. The vertex ranges from orange to fully black, but typically orange with a small part black. The wing covers or elytra are metallic green or bluish green. They are about 6-19mm long. They also have almost colorless pubescence.
Where you'll find it: These beetles are found in the southern half of California, as well as in some parts of Arizona and Utah.
Natural History: Adults of these beetles eat many different plants like Daisies, California poppies, mints, elderberry, and many more.
This page was written by Marina Herrera, a 2005 participant in the Quasars to Sea Stars teen program.