"Pronotum: Orange to reddish (rarely blackish), usually with light yellowish markings in two basal oblique spots and at lateral and apical margins, usually darkest (sometimes black) basally on each side, light margins variable, often vague. Punctation dual, smaller punctures minute and dense, larger punctures very small, infrequently rather small and coarse. Elytra: Background color creamy yellow to light orange, vittae brown to black. Each elytron with three dark vittae as follows: on second interval, usually complete, sometimes vague apically; on fourth interval, sometimes vague or interrupted before middle, rarely vague at basal half and apex; on sixth interval, often vague or reduced at base. With seven distinct and even rows of punctures and a short series behind humerus, punctures fine, dense as usual, finer to apex as usual; inner and outer rows distinct at apex and nearly or quite meeting. Prosternum: Anterior margin in male produced ventrally into a distinct, pointed lobe or spine, in female produced ventrally into a distinct, sometimes pointed lobe. Length: 4.0 to 5.7 mm" (White, 1968: 44).
"Two specimens from Mexico determined as C. abruptus Suffrian are similar to this species. They differ in that the yellowish pronotal markings (two basal spots and the lateral and apical margins) are distinct (not vague as in c. confluentus) and the vitta on the second elytral interval is interrupted or incomplete apically (nearly always complete in c. confluentus). Also each elytron bears a small, dark subhumeral spot; this is absent in c. confluentus" (White, 1968).
"Tilden (1949, p. 151) recorded this species on Baccharis pilularis consanguinea O. Ktze. (Astereae). Label data provide the following records: Chrysothamnus, Chrysothamnus speciosusNutt, and Gutierrezia lucida Green" (White, 1968).
USA: UT, CA, AZ, NM, CO, NV, WY, NE, KS, MT; Canada: Alberta (White, 1968).