10mm Green Huntsman, Ashdown Forest, Sussex, 6th April 2025.
Green Huntsman - (Micrommata virescens)
The Green Huntsman is the UK's only Huntsman species. It's a very distinctive spider and shouldn't be confused with any other species in the UK, with the possible exception of the Green Crab Spider, Diaea dorsata. Like other Huntsman species, from various countries, the Green Huntsman does not build a web to catch its prey. The Green Huntsman relies on its camouflage and speed, as it waits motionless to ambush its prey, or slowly stalks up on it. When prey comes within range the spider moves at great speed to pounce on its victim. The Green Huntsman is also quite a competent jumper and will use its jumping skills to pounce on prey, or to evade capture from predators.
The Green Huntsman has a widespread but very scattered distribution in the southern half of the UK and is considered as a nationally scarce species. Even in areas where it is present it can still be very difficult to find.
Females are a very vivid green colour, with a slightly paler green abdomen. They typically reach a body-length of around 10-15mm. The males are also green in colour but not quite as bright green as the females. The abdomen of the male is reddish brown with two longitudinal yellow stripes. Green Huntsman Spiders have eight small black eyes that are each encircled by a white ring of short, white hairs. Even the eggs of the Green Huntsman are bright green in colour.
Green Huntsman spiders are typically found in damp, sheltered woodland, where they seem to favour the lower branches of young oak trees, tall grass and sedge tussocks. Other habitats may include moorland, heathland, parks and gardens. In the summer females build a large retreat for their egg-sac, usually around 50cm from the ground, made from small leaves bound together with silken threads. Adults can normally be found from April through to October, with May to August being the best months for females, and May to June for males.
There is also a very similar , and closely related Green Huntsman species, Micrommata ligurina, which is found in parts of southern Europe and North Africa. Micrommata ligurina sometimes finds its way into the UK as an accidental import, hidden amidst imported plants, fruit or vegetables. One such example turned up on the outside of a residential house in Sidmouth, Devon on February 14th 2023. - LINK. An adult female specimen turned up in Wales on 29th March 2023, inside a bag of mixed fruit, containing strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, grown in Mexico and Portugal. - LINK
Micrommata ligurina can be distinguished from our native Micrommata virescens by the presence of a small black dot on its carapace. Juvenile specimens are usually a sandy or tan colour. Whilst adults are usually vivid green they can also be found in this light brown colouration as well. LINK 1 LINK 2. In its native countries Micrommata ligurina is sometimes known as the Green Grass Spider, or the Green Prairie Spider.
