It's not uncommon for insects to appear in a wide variety of colors, especially in the arachnid world. Arachnids can be found in shades of brown, black, tan, gray, yellow or even white. However, neon green spiders or fluorescent green spiders can be shocking to behold. The truth is that there are dazzling animals everywhere around the world, and neon green spiders are just one example.
Neon Green Spiders
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You might be surprised to learn that there are several species of spiders that can appear neon green in color. They include the green lynx spider (Peucetia viridans), green hunstman spider (Micrommata virescens) and the cucumber spider (Araniella cucurbitina).
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All three of these spiders are adaptive. That means their green color allows them to blend into their surroundings and hide from their prey as well as from predators. This adaptation makes them dangerous to the other insects and small animals that spiders eat.
Are Neon Green Spiders Poisonous?
If you've spotted a green spider in your vicinity, you may be wondering whether or not fluorescent green spiders are dangerous. For the sake of clarity, it's important to note that virtually all spider bites are technically poisonous. Whether or not the type and amount of poison their bites release is dangerous to humans is another question entirely.
Bites from green lynx spider species are typically not dangerous for humans. While they are very aggressive with their prey, they rarely bite people unless they feel threatened. Usually, when people receive bites from them, it's a female guarding a sac of eggs. While the bite may sting or itch, it is not dangerous.
Neither the green huntsman spider nor the cucumber spider is poisonous either. That being said, a bite from a green huntsman can be quite painful and can cause swelling. They tend to be more aggressive than either the lynx or cucumber spiders when threatened.
Where Do Fluorescent Green Spiders Live?
The natural habitat of a green lynx spider includes the southern United States, Mexico, most of Central America, Venezuela and the West Indies. They prefer a warm, humid climate and like to live on green shrubs and tall grasses or wildflowers. Green huntsman spiders, on the other hand, are native to northern and central Europe. Over the centuries, they have made their way to the United States and thrive in similar climates. However, finding them in the United States is much more rare.
Cucumber spiders are also indigenous to northern Europe, but they can be found all around the world. Certainly, they live on cucumbers, but they also inhabit other green plants, especially those that attract small insects since that's what these spiders eat.
If You Find a Green Spider
While green spiders may not be dangerous, you may want to know what to do if you find one. You can kill it, but bear in mind that spiders eat other more pesky and harmful insects. For that reason, you may want to simply remove it from your vicinity. Relocate it to a dense, green shrub. If you have tall plants in your garden, you can also leave it there.