The integument is shining, the elytral tips are not deeply impressed, and the pronotum is dilated. It really can't be any of the other species you might find in that part of the state. Its actually described as "rufous to dark brownish" (dark brownish covers a multitude of sins). The legs could certainly be classified as dark brownish. Also the large size matches N. barbarae. A great find of a rarely seen species!

I see these guys regularly albeit infrequently if that makes any sense. They're always jet black. If it helps, the full size photos are up on my flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44150996@N06/7322051132/sizes/o/in/set-72157623998717973/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/44150996@N06/7322061912/sizes/o/in/set-72157623998717973/.

I still have the beetle too, now dead.

Thanks for the links. These beetles certainly are gorgeous. I'd love to get my grubby little paws on one of these someday. Hopefully the bycid guys will come along and give us a solid ID.

This appears to be the female of Necydalis rudei. This specie feeds within living Haplopaus ericoides in the coastal scrub communities along parts of Santa Barbara County. Early June would be about right for the flight date of this specie. The female of rudei is very robust, and seems to always be totally black. N. barbarae is also robust but flies later in the year, and seems always to be dark rufous or brown from the material I have examined. The elytral apices of barbarae are not reflexed as in rudei.

the question is where are the long golden hairs associated with the species N. rudei. Unfortunately I don't see any mention of the female for this species in the description. They described it as a species of the dunes, and indicate that it strongly resembles N. cavipennis. This female specimen would never be mistaken for that species. I've always concluded that since they didn't make any specific comments about the female that it must closely match the male.

Sadly the picture is dark has some features obscured by lighting, and the polished surface.

Would the current N. rudei on bugguide: be misidentified or are they pretty variable color wise? Mock heather, Ericameria ericoides, was very common where this beetle was found.
-Alice