Lynx Spider Diet and Garden Benefits

This spider feeds exclusively on insects.

Lynx spiders are highly beneficial predators in a garden setting. Unlike some spiders that wait in webs, these are active “sit-and-wait” hunters.

Diet: They eat a variety of garden pests, including flies, moths, caterpillars, and even small grasshoppers.
Hunting Style: Notice the long, prominent spines (macrosetae) on its legs. These act like a “basket” to help trap and hold onto buzzing or crawling insects while the spider delivers a bite.
Plant Safety: They have zero interest in plant sap or the leaves themselves. They use your plants strictly as hunting grounds and camouflage.

You can tell it’s a Lynx spider by:

The hexagonal eye arrangement (though hard to see here, it’s a hallmark of the family).
The long, black spines on the legs.
The tapered abdomen and high “head” (cephalothorax).

Since you often see these on leafy greens or ornamental plants, you can rest easy knowing they are actually acting as a natural form of pest control.

Johnson's Horticulture