They are found in the southern U.S. south into northern South America.
They live on plants and shrubs where they hunt for insects. This can be in open places like grasslands, fields, yards, and gardens.
They are large, bright green spiders, females reaching more than ¾” long. Males are smaller. Their back is reddish with several white s-shaped markings. They have long, yellow legs with black spines and spots. They have 8 eyes arranged in a circle with two big eyes and two little eyes facing forward.
The will run and jump after prey.
They eat insects, including farm pests like moths and caterpillars. They are thought to be helpful to farmers.
The female will lay hundreds of bright orange eggs in a silken egg sacs. She will then guard the eggs until they hatch and then the spiderlings until they are old enough to go out on their own. She will attack anything that bothered them. The young will molt many times to reach their adult size.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Araneomorphae
Family: Oxyopidae
Genus: Peucetia
Species: P. viridans
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