Tropical forests, temperate woodlands and even backyard gardens host a surprising variety of small hunters that blend into leaves and moss. Noticing a flash of green among foliage often means a spider adapted to camouflage and ambush, so location and habitat give good initial clues.
There are exactly 17 green spiders, ranging from Bhamo Jumping Spider to Wandering Green Spider. For each species, you’ll find below the Scientific name, Range (regions/countries), Size (mm) to help you identify where they live and how big they get — take a look at the list you’ll find below.
How can I tell if a spider I see is one of these green spiders?
Look for overall green or yellow-green coloration, a preference for leafy habitats, and size consistent with the entries below; many are small (a few millimeters to a couple of centimeters). Photos, close-up of body shape and eye arrangement (jumpers vs. web-builders), and the region where you found it usually narrow identification to a few candidates.
Are green spiders dangerous to people or pets?
Most green spiders are not aggressive and their bites are rare; many have mild venom suited to small prey and pose little threat to people or pets. Avoid handling, keep pets from playing with unfamiliar spiders, and seek medical advice only if a bite causes significant pain, allergic reactions, or signs of infection.
Green Spiders
| Common name | Scientific name | Range (regions/countries) | Size (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Lynx Spider | Peucetia viridans | North, Central, & South America; West Indies | 12-22 |
| Cucumber Green Orb-weaver | Araniella cucurbitina | Europe, Asia, North America | 4-9 |
| Magnolia Green Jumper | Lyssomanes viridis | Southeastern USA | 5-8 |
| Green Huntsman Spider | Micrommata virescens | Europe and Asia | 10-16 |
| Green Jumping Spider | Mopsus mion | Australia, New Guinea | 12-18 |
| Green Crab Spider | Diaea dorsata | Europe and Asia | 4-6 |
| Grass Crab Spider | Oxytate virens | East and Southeast Asia | 7-10 |
| Hairy Green Crab Spider | Heriaeus hirtus | Europe and Western Asia | 4-10 |
| Six-spotted Orb-weaver | Araniella displicata | North America, Europe, Asia | 4-11 |
| Eurasian Green Lynx | Peucetia graminea | Southern Europe and Asia | 8-16 |
| Lichen Huntsman | Pandercetes gracilis | Southeast Asia, Australia | 15-25 |
| Goldenrod Crab Spider | Misumena vatia | North America, Europe, Asia | 4-10 |
| Two-lined Epeus Jumper | Epeus flavobilineatus | Southeast Asia | 6-9 |
| Bhamo Jumping Spider | Thiania bhamoensis | Asia | 6-8 |
| Green Crab Spider | Hedana valida | Australia | 8-12 |
| Wandering Green Spider | Eburiola herbigrada | Australia | 4-6 |
| Pointed Green Orb-weaver | Singa nitidula | Europe and Asia | 4-7 |
Images and Descriptions
Green Lynx Spider
A large, bright green spider with long, spiny legs. It doesn’t build a web to catch prey, instead actively hunting on plants. Its bite can be painful but is not medically significant to humans.
Cucumber Green Orb-weaver
A small, vibrant green orb-weaver, often with tiny black spots and a red mark under its abdomen. It spins small orb webs between leaves in gardens, woodlands, and hedgerows. Its bite is completely harmless to people.
Magnolia Green Jumper
A beautiful, almost translucent pale green jumping spider with long legs and large, prominent eyes. It actively hunts on the leaves of trees and shrubs, like magnolias. It is inquisitive and harmless to humans.
Green Huntsman Spider
A brilliant emerald-green huntsman spider that builds no web. Females are uniformly green, while males have red and yellow stripes on their abdomen. Found in long grass and shrubs. Its bite is rare and not dangerous.
Green Jumping Spider
One of Australia’s largest jumping spiders. Females are mostly green, while males are famous for their white ‘sideburns’ and red-topped head. They are very curious and their bite is harmless, causing only mild local pain.
Green Crab Spider
A small crab spider with a bright green body and a brown, leaf-like pattern on its abdomen. It ambushes prey from green leaves rather than flowers, relying on its excellent camouflage. It is completely harmless to humans.
Grass Crab Spider
An elongated, lime-green crab spider perfectly camouflaged for life on blades of grass. It holds its front legs together, pointing forward, to mimic a leaf. It is a patient ambush predator and is harmless to humans.
Hairy Green Crab Spider
A distinctive pale green crab spider covered in long, white bristles, helping it blend in on hairy-leaved plants. It waits motionless on stems and leaves to ambush visiting insects. Its bite is negligible.
Six-spotted Orb-weaver
Very similar to the Cucumber Spider, this species is often yellowish-green with four to six distinct black spots on its abdomen. It builds its orb web in open woodlands and gardens and is harmless to people.
Eurasian Green Lynx
The Eurasian counterpart to the American Green Lynx, this spider is also vibrant green with spiny legs. It is an active hunter found in shrubs and tall grasses. Its bite is not medically significant.
Lichen Huntsman
A master of disguise, this large huntsman has a flattened, mottled green-and-grey body that perfectly mimics lichen on tree bark. It is a nocturnal ambush predator whose bite, while painful, is not dangerous.
Goldenrod Crab Spider
Famous for its ability to change color from white to yellow to pale green over several days to match the flower it is hunting on. It ambushes bees and butterflies. Its bite is harmless to humans.
Two-lined Epeus Jumper
A striking jumping spider where males have a red ‘face’ and two dark stripes on a metallic green abdomen. Females are more uniformly green. They hunt on large leaves in tropical forests and are completely harmless.
Bhamo Jumping Spider
A common and beautiful jumping spider with an iridescent, metallic green carapace and a patterned abdomen. It actively hunts small insects on foliage in gardens, parks, and forests. It is harmless to people.
Green Crab Spider
A sleek, uniformly bright green crab spider found in eastern Australia. Larger than many other green crab spiders, it hunts on the leaves and stems of shrubs rather than in flowers. It is an ambush predator and is harmless.
Wandering Green Spider
A small, delicate spider with a translucent pale green body and legs. Belonging to the sac spider family, it does not build a web and instead actively roams foliage at night to hunt for small insects. It is harmless.
Pointed Green Orb-weaver
A small orb-weaver with a shiny, oval-shaped abdomen that is often a beautiful shade of green, sometimes with yellowish stripes. It lives in damp meadows and marshy areas, building its web low among the vegetation. Harmless.
