Leptophlebia marginata occurs in the holarctic region, in Europe and North America, including both temperate and Arctic habitats.

[2] Adult Leptophlebia marginata emerge from the aquatic nymph's final moult during daytime in early summer.

[2] The eggs hatch into aquatic nymphs which live on or in the sediment at the bottom of shallow water and climb about on submerged plants.

[2] Leptophlebia marginata can act as an alternate host for the parasitic nematode Cystidicoloides tenuissima which infects salmonid fish (salmon and trout) and is found in their stomachs.

The nymphs were little affected by low pH values and bio-accumulated cadmium with little apparent adverse effect, but emergence was noticeably reduced.