What genus contains the green lynx spider?

The genus that contains the green lynx spider is Peucetia. The familiar green lynx spider is the species Peucetia viridans, a bright-green hunting spider associated with leafy plants.

Peucetia belongs to the lynx spider family, Oxyopidae. Unlike orb-weaving spiders, green lynx spiders do not build capture webs; they actively stalk and pounce on prey during the day. Their catlike leap is the source of the common name “lynx spider.” Females can grow to about 22 millimetres, while males are slimmer and average about 12 millimetres.

Peucetia viridans ranges from the southern United States and California through Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and Venezuela. It often hunts among crops and garden plants, taking moths, caterpillars, and other insects. It can also consume beneficial insects such as honey bees, so its role in gardens is mixed rather than simply helpful.

Do not confuse it with Peucetia viridana, found in parts of South Asia, or Peucetia viridis, associated with Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Those are separate species in the same genus.