Description and similar species: Length 11-15 mm; extremely variable in size and color above (reddish-brown, black, green). The two characters shared by most populations are the lack of an extended white line running along the outer edge of the elytra, and, if present, the rear of the front maculation is a long straight line angled away from the outer edge of the elytron, and with a rear tip that is not expanded. The width of the maculations ranges from thick to thin or even absent in individuals os some populations. Body segments below range in color from copper, metallic green, blue and purple to almost black.

Subspecies and morphological variants: Presently this wide-ranging species is divided into thirteen recognized subspecies, most of which are found in the mountainous west. Considerable variation, even within these geographic populations is compounded by complex and often broad zones of intergradation. Considerable disagreement surrounds the designation of many of these subspecies, and at least another fourteen subspecies names have been proposed at one time or another that we do not include here. Many of the subspecies we do include are tentative and may need to be reevaluated.