Lebia viridipennis
Dejean, 1826
green-winged lebia
Lebia viridipennis, the green-winged lebia, is a small ground beetle in the Carabidae. It is found in North America, including Canada and the United States. The belongs to the Lebia, a group of colorful foliage ground beetles often noted for their bright metallic wing covers.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Lebia viridipennis: /ˈlɛ.bi.ə vɪˌrɪ.dɪˈpɛn.ɪs/
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Identification
Distinguished from other Lebia by its specific green coloration. Members of the Lebia can be separated from other ground beetles by their relatively small size and often bright metallic coloration. Identification to species level requires examination of specific color patterns and potentially genitalic dissection.
Images
Appearance
Small ground beetle with bright metallic green wing covers (). As a member of the Lebia, it exhibits the characteristic colorful appearance that distinguishes these foliage ground beetles from other carabids. The specific epithet "viridipennis" refers to the green coloration of the wings.
Habitat
Found in dry, mixed conifer forest with oaks. Has been observed at blacklight setups, indicating activity. Associated with vegetation in forested .
Distribution
North America, specifically recorded from Canada and the United States.
Seasonality
Observed in late summer and early autumn. Records from August and October suggest activity extending into fall.
Behavior
Attracted to blacklights at night. activity pattern documented through light trapping observations.
Human Relevance
Occasionally encountered by entomologists during blacklight surveys. No documented economic or medical significance.
Similar Taxa
- Lebia vittataAnother colorful foliage ground beetle in the same with bright metallic coloration, distinguished by different color pattern (striped rather than uniformly green)
- Other Lebia speciesShare small size and metallic coloration; require careful examination of color patterns and structural features for separation