Shiny blue beetle ID

[arachnocat]

I don't have a pic yet but maybe you guys can ID this beetle from the description.

It's about .5" long, shiny blue metallic and found around horse dung. I found a lot mating around horse stalls in the fall. Location: Northern CA.
Any ideas?

 

[bugmankeith]

Got to be some sort of dung beetle.

 

[arachnocat]

I think i've identified it as a "Blue Milkweed Beetle" (Chrysochus cobaltinus).
They must lay their eggs in or near dung, or just mate on it. I've seen them in several locations always on horse dung. Interesting. I thought I might try to keep some. They're really pretty.

 

[thedude]

there also known as dogbane leaf beetles

 

[bugmankeith]

That's the first time i've heard of them.

Dogbane is a plant that looks like Milkweed, so mabye they eat dogbane and not milkweed?

 

[thedude]

ive found them on both plants

 

[gunslinger]

Dogbane Leaf Beetles (Chrysochus auratus) and Cobalt Milkweed Beetles (Chrysochus cobaltinus) are not the same thing. Dogbane leaf beetles eat only plants in the dogbane family, while the milkweed beetles eat a wider variety of plants related to milkweed. Also, dogbane beetles are not found in California.

Odd to find them congregating on dung though, never heard of such a thing. Wonder if its a different beetle that looks similiar.

 

[Tleilaxu]

You know PICS are REALLY helpful for ID