Adult Lebia grandis ground beetles overwinter in soil in or near potato fields.
In the spring Colorado potato beetles emerge from hibernation.
By the time Lebia grandis beetles emerge a few weeks later, there are eggs and young larvae of their prey for them to eat and suitable pupae will soon be available for their larvae to attack.
An adult beetle can eat about twenty three eggs or three third instar larvae of the Colorado potato beetle each day.
After mating, the females lay eggs singly in the soil near potato plants.
A glandular secretion causes soil granules to stick to the eggs which serves to camouflage them.
Each female can lay up to 1300 eggs over the course of a few months.

The eggs hatch after about two weeks and the first instar larvae search out Colorado potato beetle larvae that are about to pupate.
They may follow an odour trail left behind by the burrowing larvae and they need to reach the pupation chamber before it is sealed.
They sink their mandibles into the integument of their hosts and start feeding, killing the host in the process.
After moulting they cease feeding and soon metamorphose into the pupal stage.
Adult ground beetles emerge about three weeks after the eggs were hatched.
Adult Lebia grandis ground beetles overwinter in soil in or near potato fields. In the spring Colorado potato beetles emerge from hibernation. By the time Lebia grandis beetles emerge a few weeks later, there are eggs and young larvae of their prey for them to eat and suitable pupae will soon be available for their larvae to attack. An adult beetle can eat about twenty three eggs or three third instar larvae of the Colorado potato beetle each day. After mating, the females lay eggs singly in the soil near potato plants. A glandular secretion causes soil granules to stick to the eggs which serves to camouflage them. Each female can lay up to 1300 eggs over the course of a few months.
The eggs hatch after about two weeks and the first instar larvae search out Colorado potato beetle larvae that are about to pupate. They may follow an odour trail left behind by the burrowing larvae and they need to reach the pupation chamber before it is sealed. They sink their mandibles into the integument of their hosts and start feeding, killing the host in the process. After moulting they cease feeding and soon metamorphose into the pupal stage. Adult ground beetles emerge about three weeks after the eggs were hatched.
Lebia grandis