Lebia
Guides
Lebia abdominalis
Lebia abdominalis is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, distributed across Central America, the Caribbean, and the southern United States. The genus Lebia comprises colorful foliage ground beetles often noted for their bright metallic wing covers. This species has been recorded from Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the United States, though detailed ecological information remains limited in the available literature.
Lebia atriceps
Lebia atriceps is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. The species is distributed across North America, with records from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. As a member of the genus Lebia, it belongs to a group commonly known as colorful foliage ground beetles, though specific details about this particular species remain limited.
Lebia balli
Lebia balli is a species of foliage ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Reichardt in 1972. The species belongs to the genus Lebia, a group of small, often brightly colored beetles commonly known as colorful foliage ground beetles. Like other members of this genus, L. balli is likely attracted to lights at night. The species is recorded from Mexico.
Lebia bumeliae
Lebia bumeliae is a species of colorful foliage ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Schaeffer in 1910. The genus Lebia is characterized by relatively small beetles with often bright metallic wing covers that draw attention despite their size. The specific epithet "bumeliae" suggests an association with plants in the genus Bumelia (sourgum or chittamwood). The species is known from North America, with records from the United States.
Lebia cyanipennis
Lebia cyanipennis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to the genus Lebia, a group of small, often brightly colored foliage ground beetles commonly known as 'colorful foliage ground beetles.' The species is documented from North America, with records from both the United States and Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with vegetation and may be attracted to lights at night.
Lebia fuscata
Lebia fuscata is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Lebiinae. It is distributed across Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Lebia, it belongs to a group commonly known as colorful foliage ground beetles, which are relatively small but often exhibit bright metallic coloration. The species has been documented in North American beetle surveys and is represented in major biodiversity databases including GBIF and iNaturalist.
Lebia grandis
Large Foliage Ground Beetle
Lebia grandis is a North American ground beetle and the largest species in its genus on the continent. Adults are specialist predators of Colorado potato beetle eggs and larvae, consuming up to 23 eggs or 3 third-instar larvae daily. First-instar larvae are obligate parasitoids of Leptinotarsa pupae, developing within host pupal chambers in soil. The species has primarily nocturnal habits and a cryptic life cycle that delayed recognition of its ecological importance for approximately a century after its formal description.
Lebia insulata
Lebia insulata is a species of colorful foliage ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Madge in 1967. The genus Lebia comprises relatively small beetles that draw attention with often bright metallic wing covers. Like other members of this genus, L. insulata is attracted to lights at night. The species occurs in the United States, with records from North America.
Lebia marginicollis
Lebia marginicollis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. The genus Lebia comprises small, often brightly metallic beetles commonly known as colorful foliage ground beetles. Observations indicate this species occurs in North America, though specific details about its biology remain limited in published sources.
Lebia moesta
Lebia moesta is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1850. It is found in North America, with records from both the United States and Canada. Like other members of the genus Lebia, this species is part of a diverse group of small to medium-sized predatory beetles commonly known as colorful foliage ground beetles. The genus Lebia is characterized by often bright metallic coloration on the elytra, though specific details for L. moesta remain limited in the available literature.
Lebia ornata
colorful foliage ground beetle
A small ground beetle in the genus Lebia, described by Thomas Say in 1823. The genus is known for its often bright metallic coloration. The species has a broad distribution across eastern North America, ranging from Texas and South Dakota east to Nova Scotia and south to Florida.
Lebia pectita
Lebia pectita is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1885. It is native to North America and is one of approximately 175 species in the genus Lebia. Members of this genus are commonly known as colorful foliage ground beetles due to their often bright metallic coloration. The species is documented in the United States, though specific ecological details remain limited.
Lebia perita
Lebia perita is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Casey in 1920. It belongs to the genus Lebia, a group of small, often colorful foliage ground beetles. The species is known from North America, with records from the United States and Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is likely attracted to lights at night.
Lebia pimalis
Lebia pimalis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.
Lebia pleuritica
Lebia pleuritica is a small, colorful ground beetle in the family Carabidae. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1846 and occurs in North America. Like other members of the genus Lebia, it is characterized by bright metallic coloration on the wing covers.
Lebia pulchella
Beautiful Banded Lebia, beautiful banded lebium
Lebia pulchella is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, known for its colorful metallic appearance. The species occurs across a broad North American range from southern Canada to southern Texas. It is one of many foliage-associated ground beetles in the genus Lebia that are frequently attracted to lights at night.
Lebia rufopleura
Lebia rufopleura is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1910. It belongs to the genus Lebia, a diverse group of small, often colorful foliage ground beetles. The species is known from North America, specifically recorded in the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with vegetation and may be attracted to lights at night.
Lebia scapula
Lebia scapula is a species of foliage ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1885. The genus Lebia comprises relatively small, often brightly colored beetles that are attracted to lights at night. This species is known from North America, with records from the United States and Mexico.
Lebia subgrandis
Lebia subgrandis is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to Mexico and found in North America. This species has been investigated as a potential biological control agent for the Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Adults are generalist predators of CPB eggs and early instar larvae, while first instar larvae are specialized ectoparasites of CPB prepupae and pupae. The species exhibits a notably narrow host range, refusing alternative prey even when starved.
Lebia viridis
colorful foliage ground beetle
Lebia viridis is a predatory ground beetle in the family Carabidae, recognized for its small size and bright metallic coloration. Adults measure 5–7 mm in length and are diurnal, often found on flowers and vegetation. The species occurs across North America, extending south through Mexico and Guatemala, with populations also recorded on Cuba. It is sometimes attracted to lights at night.
Leptinotarsa
Potato Beetles
Leptinotarsa is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) containing approximately 20 described species, with the most notable being Leptinotarsa decemlineata, the Colorado potato beetle. Several species in the genus produce leptinotarsin, a toxin structurally similar to diamphotoxin found in African leaf beetles of the genus Diamphidia. Some Leptinotarsa species serve as hosts for parasitoid ground beetles in the genus Lebia.