[1] The beetle is about 2 centimeters long, black and brown in color with broken white longitudinal stripes on the back.

[3] The life cycle may be 2 to 3 years, but the male beetle's adulthood may last only a week[2] and the female probably dies shortly after laying eggs.

It is limited to the Zayante sandhills, a region around Mount Hermon, Scotts Valley, and Ben Lomond in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

[4] The habitat is ponderosa pine forest and chaparral[4] with open, sandy areas forming pockets in the surrounding volcanic hills.

[5] Fire suppression has led to an alteration of the normal flora of the area, with fire-tolerant plants being replaced by other species.