Here's one of the many individuals I found "the next day" on Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis). [Referring to the text with images here.]

These beetles were quite abundant on many different Coyote Brush plants in the area, with much evidence of leaf munching. (Leading me to believe that I at least got the family right: Chrysomelidae = "Leaf Beetles" :-)

The color of the elytra varied from deep (metallic) green towards faded green with shades of gold/bronze/orange, which I assumed was age/wear related.