Green lynx spider, Peucetia viridans
(Araneae: Oxyopidae)

The male spider of this species is small and slender, while the female is large and robust. The head area and thorax is elevated and quite narrow near the eye region, but then broadens out near the back. The body of this spider is vivid, transparent green in color and covered with red spots. There also is a red patch of color located between the eyes, and this area of the spider's body is covered in white hairs. The legs of the spider are pale green to yellow in color, long in length and slender. The legs are covered with black spines and numerous black spots. Spiderlings (immatures) resemble the adults in appearance, except they are lighter in color; they molt (shed the old skin) eight times before becoming an adult.

The female usually produces one egg sac per year during September or October. Once constructed, the female spider will guard her egg sac constantly and vigorously by hanging upside down under it. Each egg sac will contain approximately 25 to 600 eggs, which are bright orange in color.

This spider is active during the day, and can leap from place to place. Green lynx spiders are found on low shrubs and herbaceous vegetation throughout the United States.

This species feeds on various insects and other small arthropods.

Images

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Adult green lynx spider, Peucetia viridans, with captured
wasp.
(Photographer: James E. Lloyd, University of Florida)

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