Green Lynx spiders, like all others in the Family Oxyopidae, are diurnal, that is they hunt during daylight hours. Their hunts are conducted much like those of the jumping spiders (Salticidae); they roam low foliage, leaping about looking for prey items. They trail a dragline when leaping, but never construct webs for prey capture. Their eyesight is not as keen as the jumping spiders, and they more often use the "wait and pounce" hunting tactic most often associated with the (equally well) camouflaged crab spiders, Thomisidae. Oxyopids of North America are characterized by the presence of numerous large, erect spines on the legs and their erratic and sudden movements.

Studies have shown the green lynx spider to prey on many species of insect, with insects in the Order Hymenoptera being the most common, comprising over 40% of all captures. Diptera (true flies) accounted for fully 15% of all prey. It must be kept in mind, as well, that spiders serve as prey for many other types of organisms, principally birds. [1]

P. viridans is the largest lynx in North America. Lynx spiders pose little danger for humans. Although there have been a few cases of human envenomation, the bites do not cause much more than temporary pain and swelling at the site, and no tissue damage or systemic aftereffects. [4]

Little is known about the chemistry of the venom, but it has been discovered that P. viridans, alone among spiders, is capable of ejecting its venom in a forward-pointing spray which can reach a distance of 20 centimeters (about 3/4 inch). When the spider is assaulted, say, by grasping one of its legs with a forceps, it whips around to face the offending instrumentation and forcefully discharges the venom in multiple directions from its fangs. Nothing is known about the defensive effectiveness of this procedure, or whether the spider also uses it preemptively.

Judging from their local abundance, the lynx spiders are among the major predators of insects occurring in low shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. Few detailed observations have been made on the feeding habits of lynx spiders, but investigations by W.H. Whitcomb et al. (1963) have disclosed that the lynx spiders are important predators of crop-damaging insects. Oxyopes salticus Hentz, another lynx spider and one of the most common spiders in Arkansas cotton fields, has been reported by Whitcomb et al. (1963) as the chief predator of the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie). Peucetia viridans is also an important predator of insect pests of cotton fields. In the field, green lynx spiders have been observed feeding on many species of moths of the families Noctuidae, Geometridae, and Pyralidae, including some of the most important crop pests. Whitcomb et al. (1963) reported these spiders feeding on bollworm moths, Heliothis zea (Boddie); cotton leafworm moths, Alabama agrillacea (Hübner); and cabbage looper moths, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner). They also capture larvae of these species.

However, their usefulness in the control of insect pests is counteracted by their willingness to prey also upon beneficial insects. These spiders seize large numbers of honey bees, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, and sphecid and vespid wasps. Whitcomb et al. (1963) reported that members of the vespid genus Polistes which, themselves, are important predators on crop pests, are especially favored as prey by lynx spiders. Similarly, several species of Diptera, including syrphid flies (pollinators) and large tachinid flies (beneficial parasites), also are seized. Thus the possible use of lynx spiders in the control of crop pests will depend in a large part on when, where, on what crops, and for the control of what pests they are to be used. Their use in Florida in the control of pests of such crops as soybeans and peanuts may be feasible. Their potential in this regard appears to warrant thorough investigation. [3]