Green Lynx Spider
Peucetia viridans
The Green Lynx Spider is a bright green native hunting spider commonly found among Florida flowers and shrubs.
The Green Lynx Spider is a bright green native hunting spider commonly found among Florida flowers and shrubs.
A slender green spider with long legs covered in prominent black spines. Red spots mark the legs and body, and pale chevrons may appear on the abdomen.
Does not build a prey-catching web. It waits on flowers and leaves, then lunges at passing insects. Females guard egg sacs and young.
Not considered medically significant and rarely bites. Avoid handling and allow the spider to remain on vegetation.
No special state or federal listing applies. Pesticide use must follow label directions and should avoid unnecessary harm to beneficial spiders.
Habitat:
Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Agricultural Areas, Urban and Residential Areas
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
Bees, flies, moths, butterflies, true bugs, and other insects captured directly on vegetation.
Behavior:
Does not build a prey-catching web. It waits on flowers and leaves, then lunges at passing insects. Females guard egg sacs and young.
Daytime
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Sunny days on flowering shrubs, tall grasses, garden plants, and seed heads
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Not Federally or State Listed
Safety Level:
Harmless
Safety Information:
Not considered medically significant and rarely bites. Avoid handling and allow the spider to remain on vegetation.
Benefits to Property:
Consumes many plant-feeding insects and provides natural pest control without chemical treatment.
Property Concerns:
It also captures pollinators while hunting on flowers. Broad-spectrum pesticides remove both the spider and its prey.
Fun Fact:
A threatened female guarding eggs may spit defensive droplets a short distance, though this behavior poses little risk to people.
Wildlife Laws:
No special state or federal listing applies. Pesticide use must follow label directions and should avoid unnecessary harm to beneficial spiders.
Identification:
A slender green spider with long legs covered in prominent black spines. Red spots mark the legs and body, and pale chevrons may appear on the abdomen.