When viewed dorsally, head and thorax are blue-green, with appearances of red-orange under certain light conditions due to its iridescent colouration.

It has two prominent compound eyes and large, predominantly black mandibles with yellowish-white marking at its base.

[2][4] C. aurulenta can be found in a wide range of sandy habitats, including river bars, forest trails, and sand dunes near shorelines and mangroves.

Possibly giving the group more lines of sight to detect oncoming predators, or to enhance their chemical defences.

The recognised subspecies of C. aurulenta: Some authors consider Cosmodela to be a distinct genus whereby the subspecific epithets are classified as their own species.