Recognizing the Good Bugs in Cotton - Texas Is Cotton Country ...

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Lynx
Spiders
Oxyopes salticus
Peucetia viridans
Characteristics: The striped lynx, Oxyopes
salticus, and the green lynx, Peucetia viridans,
are common spiders in cotton and are found
throughout the Cotton Belt. The striped lynx
is brown, about 1/4 inch long with 4 long,
gray stripes behind the head on the front half
of the body. The green lynx is a bright green
spider about 1/2-3/4 inch long with small red
spots on the legs and abdomen. Both species
have eight eyes and two black lines running
down the face and jaws, and the end of the
abdomen is pointed. The legs are long and
thin and armed with many long spines. They
often run and jump erratically when disturbed.
Prey: Lynx spiders are probably the most
important spiders in cotton because of their
wide distribution and abundance. They are
active and aggressive hunters that chase their
prey or hide in wait and leap out. They do
not build webs. Lynx spiders feed on a wide
variety of insects, both pests (fleahoppers,
bollworm/tobacco budworm larvae and eggs)
and occasionally, beneficials. The striped lynx
is a key predator of the cotton fleahopper.
General Biology: Spiders “balloon” into cotton
fields by floating on wind-blown strands
of silk. The egg-sac of the striped lynx is discshaped
and attached to a leaf. The female
guards the egg-sac until the spiderlings
emerge. Reproduction occurs throughout the
growing season and there are one or two gen-