Green Lynx (Peucetia viridans)

The Green Lynx is a big, bright green spider that lives in some areas of the Americas. Sometimes people mix it up with other similar-looking spiders from Africa and India such as Peucetia. In this blog post, we’re going to share cool facts and clear up some confusion about the Green Lynx spider.

Scientific Classification

• Family: Oxyopidae
• Genus: Peucetia
• Scientific name: Peucetia viridans

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

• Size: Like most spiders, the females are larger, ranging from 12 to 22 mm in length, whereas the slender males are around 12 mm.
• Color: Typically bright green in color with most individuals having pairs of diagonal lines in white or burgundy or both, around the center of the abdominal area that further point towards the spider’s head. The legs have a dense scattering of dark spots.
• Other Characteristic Features: All eight legs bear black spines, a feature common to most species of the Oxyopidae family.

Eggs

Each of the one to five egg sacs is 2 cm (0.8 in) broad, with one egg sac containing 25 to 600 eggs. The eggs are bright orange in color and are laid in around September-October. The female guards the sacs hanging upside down, and attacks anything that tries to approach. It takes about a couple of weeks for the eggs to hatch.

Spiderlings

The tiny spiderlings remain within the egg sac for about two weeks, before they are ready to come out and survive on their own. There are a total of eight transformational stages or instars for the spiderlings to attain adulthood.

Are Green Lynx Spiders Venomous?

Yes, Green Lynx Spiders have venom. They use it to help them catch the bugs they eat. But for people, it’s not super strong.

Can Green Lynx Spiders Bite?

Green Lynx Spiders can bite, but they’re usually not interested in bothering people. They’ll only bite if they feel very scared or threatened.

Ecological Importance and Behavior of the Green Lynx Spider

Green Lynx Spiders are powerful predators, regulating pest populations. Preferring Lepidoptera, they help protect crops like corn, cotton and cabbage. But they also hunt beneficial insects like honeybees.

Natural Predator: Despite their impressive predatory skills, the Green Lynx Spider is not exempt from being preyed upon. Their list of predators is varied, including larger spider species, wasps, birds, lizards, and snakes. Their vibrant green color, which aids in hunting, also helps them blend in with foliage to escape the watchful eyes of these predators.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: Operating primarily as daytime hunters, Green Lynx Spiders rely on their acute vision to detect movements of potential prey or threats. While they primarily consume pests, their foraging behavior sometimes leads them to beneficial insects, showcasing the complex dynamics of food webs in their habitats.

Relationship with Humans: Green Lynx Spiders are usually timid around humans, biting only when threatened causing mild irritation. They aid in pest control, but their effect on beneficial insects is worrying. Their intriguing behavior, particularly females’ protection of eggs, attracts naturalists and photographers.

Quick Facts

Did You Know

• This is a hunting spider that moves around places, foraging, and hence, does not construct a web to sit and wait for its prey.
• The green lynx spider eats moths and their larvae, which can harm crops like corn and cotton. But, they also eat helpful bugs like honeybees, which reduces their benefit to farmers.
• Their green coloration is an adaptation for camouflaging among the leaves, so they can stalk their prey.
• While guarding eggs, the spider mothers have a habit of squirting venom from its fang-like appendages (chelicerae) from a distance of about one foot to any ‘enemy’.
• In Latin, the species’ specific name viridans translates to ‘becoming green’.