flower lebia beetle

not listed

NNR - Unranked

not listed

Flower lebia beetle is a common, small, colorful foliage ground beetle. It occurs throughout the United States, southern Canada, and Mexico. In Canada it has been collected as far north as Yukon Territory.

The larvae are external parasites of the pupae of at least four species of metallic flea beetles (Altica spp.). Of these, only grape flea beetle (Altica chalybea) occurs in Minnesota. Adults are active from late spring through fall. They are found on the ground, on foliage, and on flowers. They feed on the eggs and larvae of the same species.

Adults are 3⁄16″ to ¼″ (4.6 to 6.6 mm) in length. The body is oval, rather broad, and very shiny. It is entirely one color with no markings. Young (teneral) adults are metallic blue. They gradually change to metallic green as they mature.

The head is constricted in the rear into a neck. It is sparsely dotted with minute pits (punctate), and there are fine grooves along the sides. The antennae are long and thread-like, and they have 11 segments. They are inserted between the eyes and the jaws (mandibles). They are entirely blackish, but the first three segments have a green metallic sheen. The mouth parts are directed forward.

The thorax is 1.5 times wider than long, wider than the head but much narrower than the base of the hardened wing covers (elytra). The sides are flattened and extended outwards (margined). The margin is narrow except at the rear angle, where it is distinct. The surface has fine, transverse wrinkles.

The elytra are broad and flattened. They are long but appear cut off at an angle. Unlike most ground beetles, the elytra do not completely cover the abdomen. The lateral margins have a distinct, narrow, flattened, sharp edge. Each elytron has several fine, longitudinal grooves. The grooves are shallow and smooth, not punctured. The space between the grooves is flat or slightly convex.

The legs are long, slender, and entirely dark, sometimes with a metallic sheen. The fourth segment (tibia) of the front leg has a short spur at the tip. The last part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has five segments. The first three tarsal segments have an adhesive pad underneath. There is a pair of claws at the tip of each tarsus. The claws are comb-like (pectinate).

Total length: 3⁄16″ to ¼″ (4.6 to 6.6 mm)

One generation per year:

Adults are active mostly during the day, but they will also come to lights at night.

A single egg is covered with an adhesive secretion and is laid on the soil. The egg hatches in two or three weeks. The newly hatched larva immediately hunts for a pupa or pupating larva of a leaf beetle.

Adults overwinter.

Pupae of grape flea beetle (Altica chalybea)

Eggs and larvae of grape flea beetle (Altica chalybea)

Sources

29, 30, 82, 83.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Find a Species

Common

Lebia viridis metallic blue ground beetle

Lebia viridis, metallic blue ground beetle, is about 5 mm long. I sometimes see them on leaves in early morning or late afternoon. Photo was taken at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., Wisconsin on August 15, 2022.

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Lebia viridis, metallic blue ground beetle, is about 5 mm long. I sometimes see them on leaves in early morning or late afternoon. Photo was taken at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., Wisconsin on August 15, 2022.