I didn't collect it. I would've if it was dead, but a lot of insects are fragile and tend to die in captivity, so I just took some shots. Hope it wasn't an endangered beetle, but exciting to hear it's uncommon.

Yes, I would say S. andrewsi. A cool find! Can you provide more information on the location?

In my yard under some leaf litter, near Old Graham Road and Dry Creek. If I ever come across it again I'll let you know. Thanks for the positive ID Todd!

Thanks for that info! I'll be traveling through NC in about a month, (3 week collecting trip covering Georgia to Pennsylvania), if I can work it into my schedule I'll check out that area.

Old Graham Rd is also known as "Old North Carolina 87", which can cause some confusion because there IS a Hwy 87 that parallels it. Once you get off Hwy 15/501 and get on Old Graham, head N, NW. After you pass the Chapel Ridge Golf Course on the left right before you hit Dry Creek, there's an abandoned subdivision on the right. It's paved but I've never gone camera stalking there since I don't know who owns it, but I've always thought it must be pretty pristine. Good luck!

Thanks for that information! I saw the subdivision on aerial photos, didn't know it's abandoned. That's encouraging. Is it posted?

I'm not sure, I haven't driven by it in a long time. If I get a chance I'll check it out and update you here.

Awesome!

The defunct subdivision is called The Estates at Laurel Ridge. It is posted, though one sign has since fallen over. There's an entrance both before and after Dry Creek.
There's also a sparsely developed subdivision about 3/4 mile before you reach The Estates. It's on the opposite side of the street on the left, and is called the Parks at Meadowview. It's located on The Parks Drive. Most of it is empty heavily wooded lots and The Parks Drive runs through it. Lots of insects this time of year, but take precautions against deer ticks and chiggers.
Happy Hunting!

That's very helpful! Thanks! With some luck maybe I'll find one or two. I'll post here if I catch any. One common collecting technique is "banana trails," setting out banana slices over a trail and then checking after dark with a flashlight. Scaphinotus find banana very attractive for some reason. It's something you might want to try sometime if you want to see more Scaphinotus. It also attracts other ground beetle species. Thanks for all your help!

Here's more info on that Scaphinotus: A bright blue/green lowland form, under logs in oak-pine-dogwood hickory woods, along banks of woodland streams, found sparingly during June and October.

Tried collecting at this location a couple of times but couldn't find Scaphinotus. Did unfortunately pick-up a Lyme infection.

Sorry to hear that! Hope you got treated in time.

I was treated and all seems to be okay. Seems there is some fresh development at the site.