Beetles are brilliant metallic green, with coppery brown fore wings that do not entirely cover the abdomen. A row of 5 lateral brushes of white hairs on each side of the abdomen and a pair of these brushes on the bottom surface of the last abdominal segment distinguish this beetle from all others with similar coloration. They begin to emerge in early July and can be found until mid September. After the initial emergence, most beetles leave their tunnels during the morning of clear days for feeding and mating. They return to the soil in the late afternoon or evening to spend the night.
Beetles also remain in the soil on cold wet days.
Eggs measure about 1.5 mm in diameter and are laid in the soil in July and August. Beetles generally lay their eggs in short grasses. Larvae begin to hatch in late July and go through three molts before fall. Grubs begin to move downward during the first freezing air temperatures in the fall for hibernation. Grubs move up again during April and May to feed and reach maturity.