Magnolia Green Jumper
Lyssomanes viridis
The Magnolia Green Jumper is a delicate translucent-green jumping spider that hunts small insects on leaves and shrubs.
Magnolia Green Jumpers live on broadleaf shrubs, trees, and garden plants across Florida. Their pale color and long legs blend with fresh foliage.
They do not build prey-catching webs. Instead, they stalk insects using excellent vision and leap short distances with a safety line of silk.
Habitat:
Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Residential Areas
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
They eat aphids, flies, small moths, leafhoppers, and other tiny insects.
Behavior:
These spiders patrol leaf surfaces by day, orient toward movement, and make precise jumps to capture prey or escape danger.
Day
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Warm daylight hours while inspecting magnolia leaves, broadleaf shrubs, and shaded garden foliage.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Common and not considered imperiled in Florida.
Safety Level:
Low Risk
Safety Information:
Harmless to people and pets. Let the spider remain on plants where it hunts pests.
Benefits to Property:
It provides natural control of aphids, flies, and other small plant-feeding insects.
Property Concerns:
It causes no damage and does not infest structures. Pesticides remove both the spider and its prey.
Fun Fact:
Its large forward-facing eyes provide sharp depth perception for accurate jumps between leaves.
Wildlife Laws:
No special Florida listing applies. Protected-area rules may restrict collecting, and pesticides must be used according to the label.
Identification:
Look for a slim lime-green spider with long translucent legs, two prominent forward-facing eyes, and small red or orange markings around the eyes. Males have darker jaws and longer front legs.