We're so used to seeing spiders in varying shades of brown and black lurking in dark crevices, so coming across a bright green one in broad daylight can be a bit of a shock!
But chances are these green spiders are dwelling among leaves in hedges, woodlands or in your garden, so are perfectly suited to their environment. Their green colour gives them ideal camouflage for them to lie in wait, preying on unsuspecting bees, moths and other insects.
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Are there green spiders?
Cucumber spider (Mraniella cucurbitina)
Common across the UK, these vivid spiders spin a web among leaves in hedges or woodland edge, where their pea-like green abdomen offers camouflage. Cucumber spiders are tiny – females are just 6mm long.
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Green huntsman (Micrommata virescens)
The UK's only huntsman spider – these are mostly found in woods in southern England. It is a ground ambush predator; its green colouring giving perfect camouflage for its hunting activities. The females grow up to 15mm long.
Flower crab spider (Misumena vatia)
Crab spiders get their name from the crab-like arrangement of their front legs, and their ability to run sideways. They are a sit-and-wait predator that hides in flowers, often in gardens. You’re more likely to spot the rounded, 1cm-long females.
Is there a venomous green spider?
The green lynx spider (Peucetia viridans), which is native to southern US and Mexico, can spit venom nearly eight inches, but it isn't venomous to humans.
Like many lynx spiders, the green lynx actively hunts prey rather than trying to catch it in a web. These emerald green spiders have the ability to camouflage into their background by matching the colour of the flower on which they sit to pounce on pollinators.
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