About Peucetia viridans (Hentz, 1832)
Female Peucetia viridans can reach a maximum body length of 22 millimeters (0.87 inches). Males are smaller, more slender, and average 12 millimeters (0.47 inches) in length. This species often has a red patch between its eyes, with a few additional red spots across its body. The area around its eyes is covered with short, flattened white hairs. The dorsal side of the abdomen has roughly six chevron-shaped marks, with the point of each chevron pointing forward. Its legs range in color from green to yellow, and bear long black spines like those seen on the legs of most Oxyopidae species, plus a widespread scattering of black spots. Peucetia viridans is very similar in appearance to Peucetia longipalpis, the only other Peucetia species that occurs in the United States, and the two are easily confused. P. longipalpis typically has a shorter, thicker, more domed abdomen with less distinct markings on its upper surface. Late in the growing season, Peucetia viridans often changes its primary body color from green to paler yellow, usually with reddish streaks. This change is thought to result from the breakdown of tetrapyrrole pigment in the spider's blood. Gravid female Peucetia viridans can change their body color to match their surrounding background, and this color change process takes approximately 16 days to complete. This species is distributed across the southern United States, California, Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and Venezuela.
