Parasitoid-beetles
Guides
Lebia
colorful foliage ground beetles, flat ground beetles
Lebia is a large genus of predatory ground beetles (Carabidae) comprising over 700 species in 17 subgenera with worldwide distribution. Members are frequently encountered on foliage and flowers, where their often brilliant metallic coloration makes them conspicuous despite small to medium size. The genus is notable within Carabidae for including species with parasitoid larval stages, a rare life history strategy among ground beetles. Adults are active predators of small insects, while larvae of at least some species are obligate parasitoids of beetle prepupae.