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Green Huntsman (Micrommata virescens)

The green huntsman spider belonging to the Sparassidae family is indigenous to the Northern and Central parts of Europe. These huntsman spiders possess a green coloration from which they have attained their name.

Green Huntsman Spider

Scientific Classification

Physical Description & Identification

Adults

Size: The females are 12 to 16 mm in length, whereas the males are about 7 to 10 mm.

Color: Females have a bright green body, while males are olive green in color.  The former’s abdomen has a light green hue with dark green median stripes, the latter on the other hand possess red or reddish-brown median stripes on their abdomen with borders of yellow.

Other characteristics: The green huntsman spider has eight eyes arranged in rows of two encircled by white hairs. The abdomen of the male spiders is narrower in comparison to their female counterparts.

Green Huntsman Spider Size

Spiderlings

The cephalothoraxes of the juvenile spider are yellowish-brown with dark median and marginal stripes.

Eggs

The eggs are enclosed in a green clutch lying amidst leaves which are stitched together. Within a span of four weeks, they finally hatch.

The Web

Similar to all huntsman spiders, these species do not weave webs but hunt for they prey amidst the green vegetation and their camouflage is their biggest weapon in this regard.

Is the Green Huntsman Spider Poisonous and Does it Bite

Like most huntsman spiders, this species may bite humans when provoked which is however not poisonous but painful indeed resulting in local swelling and redness.

Green Huntsman Spider Picture

Quick Facts

Distribution Northern and Central regions of Europe including southern Britain and Denmark
Habitat Forest edges, forest edges, dry woodlands
Diet Small insects as well as other invertebrates
Predators Geckoes, birds, wasps, flies, nematode worms
Lifespan About 2 years

Did You Know

  • Bilin micromtablin pigmentation is responsible for their green coloration.

Image Credits: Image Credits: Aarachne.org.au, I.pinimg.com, Live.staticflickr.com

The green huntsman spider belonging to the Sparassidae family is indigenous to the Northern and Central parts of Europe. These huntsman spiders possess a green coloration from which they have attained their name.

Green Huntsman Spider

Physical Description & Identification

Adults

Size: The females are 12 to 16 mm in length, whereas the males are about 7 to 10 mm.

Color: Females have a bright green body, while males are olive green in color.  The former’s abdomen has a light green hue with dark green median stripes, the latter on the other hand possess red or reddish-brown median stripes on their abdomen with borders of yellow.

Other characteristics: The green huntsman spider has eight eyes arranged in rows of two encircled by white hairs. The abdomen of the male spiders is narrower in comparison to their female counterparts.

Green Huntsman Spider Size

Spiderlings

The cephalothoraxes of the juvenile spider are yellowish-brown with dark median and marginal stripes.

Eggs

The eggs are enclosed in a green clutch lying amidst leaves which are stitched together. Within a span of four weeks, they finally hatch.

The Web

Similar to all huntsman spiders, these species do not weave webs but hunt for they prey amidst the green vegetation and their camouflage is their biggest weapon in this regard.

Is the Green Huntsman Spider Poisonous and Does it Bite

Like most huntsman spiders, this species may bite humans when provoked which is however not poisonous but painful indeed resulting in local swelling and redness.

Green Huntsman Spider Picture

Quick Facts

Distribution Northern and Central regions of Europe including southern Britain and Denmark
Habitat Forest edges, forest edges, dry woodlands
Diet Small insects as well as other invertebrates
Predators Geckoes, birds, wasps, flies, nematode worms
Lifespan About 2 years

Did You Know

  • Bilin micromtablin pigmentation is responsible for their green coloration.

Image Credits: Image Credits: Aarachne.org.au, I.pinimg.com, Live.staticflickr.com

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